The financial devastation one goes through after a DUI ought to be a deterrent from making a really, really, really poor decision to get behind the wheel. Actually, operating ANY kind of a mechanized thing is really dumb, but for some reason many have done it. Maybe once, maybe countless times. I could have killed someone, and even myself, quite a few years ago. The personal humiliation, let alone the humiliation my family likely went through was enough for me to stop making such poor choices. The financial ramifications cost me dearly. Even while driving legally, I still have a fear everyone on the road somehow knows I drove drunk years ago. I have a fear of being pulled over and subjected to the same field sobriety tests because of that evil thing called a DUI on my driving record, even though I will never, ever drink and drive again.
I thank the powers that be that I never hurt anyone by my careless decision to drive impaired. I thank the powers that be I learned a very valuable lesson that night. I thank the powers that be I make a plan and stick to a plan if I choose to go out and imbibe.
Part of me sits in judgement over Monkey’s situation as he treated me poorly in the past. Part of me feels empathy for Monkey. All of me hopes he can turn things around.