"I hope that guy gets the book thrown at him."

Thursday, Sept. 20, 1990

     Nancy called me this morning.  I was surprised to hear from her & figured she was calling to tell me she's pregnant.  But she said she had bad news.  She said Vivian (Hay) Totty had been in a car accident last week & died yesterday morning.  She & Sandra were on their way home from Searcy and had crossed over the White River Bridge.  They were on the curve near the grain bins when a driver came over in their lane.  She said at first everyone thought he was trying to pass another car going that way but the driver of that car said it looked like he was leaning over & not paying attention.  But then he apparently saw he was on the wrong side and tried to go on across to the other shoulder to get out of the way.  But he hit not straight head-on, but head-on on the right (passenger) side.  Nancy said she didn't know what kind of car they'd had but the guy was in a pickup.  Maybe the worst part of all is that Sandra was driving.  I had just gotten a letter from Vivian a couple of weeks ago & she said Sandra was going into the 9th grade.  So she's probably 15 & has had her learner's permit for a year or so.  Her legs were hurt but not broken.  They both had on their seatbelts but it apparently didn't help Vivian.  I can't remember what all Nancy said was broken but the worst thing was her head injury.  They had to pry the vehicles apart and cut to get Vivian out.  She was in the hospital at Searcy for a day.  When her brain began to swell they took her to LR.  They were able to drain fluid but it kept swelling or swelled again.  She was in a coma the whole time & never woke up.  I don't know if she died on her own or they disconnected her from machines.  But she apparently never really had a chance. 
     Nancy heard that the guy is from Bald Knob, is either 17 or 19, and has been arrested more than once for drunk driving.  She wasn't sure if he was drunk this time.  I guess he's ok cause she didn't mention him having to go to the hospital.
     Sandra is going to have a really hard time with this I'm sure.  Nancy sai she'd heard that she said maybe if Vivian was driving they wouldn't have had the accident.  But who knows.  They could've both died.  Whenever something like this happens you always wonder 'what if' and ask 'why'?  Just like when we lost the baby.  And it's so frustrating to have no answers. 
     I sent Vivian a birthday card in July for the first time in years.  We hadn't written to each other for a long, long time but had started again since this past xmas.  It makes you wonder about how come all of a sudden we decide to do certain things.  I just know I'm glad that we had begun writing again and especially glad I sent her that BD card.
     I called Guy at his class to tell him & he said we'd go to the florist when he got home to send some flowers.  Nancy had told me the funeral is Sat. at 2 at the funeral home in Augusta.  We went over to Farm Fresh and I was surprised at how much funeral arrangements cost.  Guy said not to worry about the cost. 
     I sent sympathy cards to Vivian's parents.  I had to call Nancy to check on their address.  I used my whole name on their card so hopefully they'll remember who I am.
     Nancy said she sent flowers from the class.  I asked if she needed help paying for that.  She said she'd talked to Eva Rose - there was money left over from our reunion. 
     It's just so sad to think that someone you know is ok one minute and gone the next.  And leaving two children behind that her husband will have to raise alone now.  I think of the fun times we had in high school.  And when I played the piano at their wedding, I started playing the final march when they started kissing instead of waiting til they started walking down the aisle.  It's just so sad to think she's gone.  I hope she didn't feel all the pain she was in.  And I hope that guy gets the book thrown at him.
     I didn't sleep well last night.  I was having a bad dream & it seemed to continue every time I went back to sleep.  I couldn't get to sleep again after Guy left.  Mon. & Tues. it was because Chief yapped.  Yesterday it was because Chief knocked over the end table.  This morning it was the dream.  Every morning I didn't get back to sleep til 7 then slept til 10.  But I can't do that tomorrow cause they're supposed to come do the termite inspection anywhere from 8-noon tomorrow.
     Guy's supposed to be finished with his school at 10 in the morning.  He wants to go to a movie tomorrow aft. then we have the Singles fellowship here tomorrow night.  So I'm going to be a tired puppy tomorrow unless I can sleep good tonight.