Another acquaintance was killed in a motor vehicle accident this weekend. That’s the second one in about a week. We used to work in the same department until she moved to Dallas for a new job a few months ago. Neither she nor her two daughters (ages 8 & 10) were wearing seatbelts. The driver of the truck and two other passengers were. My co-worker and her 10yo were thrown from the vehicle and killed. The 8yo, amazingly, survived.

People, PLEASE wear your seatbelts.

I mentioned the other day about an old friend of ours (also from Big D) who died in a motorcycle accident. The visitation on Friday evening was touching, but it breaks my heart to know that his wife and kids are left to sort out the pieces of this crazy puzzle we call life. I don’t know if he was wearing a helmet, but I reckon not.

It’s just senseless, and I can’t understand the rationale. Why NOT wear a seatbelt? Why NOT wear a helmet?

Sure, we all have heard stories about bikers who were killed even with a helmet — it’s a motorcycle, what do you expect? Only Robert Downey, Jr. is Iron Man, after all. We also learn about occasions when people die in car accidents while wearing seatbelts.

To take it a step further, I also know all too well that someone can be shot accidentally by a gun on safety. That doesn’t mean that people should neglect to set the safety, in the first place.

Freak accidents happen, but so often, these tragedies are avoidable.

Click it; wear it; set it! Why gamble with your life – and the lives of others – by failing to do something so simple?! I don’t care if it wrinkles your shirt; wear the darn seatbelt. I don’t care if your head sweats and you can’t show off your wicked-cool bandanna; wear the darn helmet. I don’t care if you have your gun stowed in a place where you are sure no one else can reach it; set the darn safety.

Please.

We’d miss you.