That’s what my older sister Becca used to say. She was six years older than my twin sister, Brittany, and I. She passed away April 1, 2006 when I was a sophomore in high school. Becca was twenty-two years old when her life was taken from her by a guy under the influence of alcohol. That guy was her boyfriend. He drove my sister and her best friend, Charlie, and a mother of two into Hayden Lake.
I got the news when my friends parents were woke up by a nightmare phone call from my sister, Brittany. She told me to sit-down, and my heart stopped. I knew something was wrong by her voice and the weird way she was acting. My sister Brittany was over in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho visiting Becca at her new apartment. Britt and Becca had planned on driving Britt home the following morning. The same morning Becca was sent to heaven. This was the worst day of my life. It didn’t seem real that she was dead, I wouldn’t accept it and still don’t want too.
I just tried to live life happily and as best as I could knowing that Becca wasn’t here anymore. I had no one to pick me up during lunch to go to Noodle Express, no one to shop with, get my nails done with, or just be a dork with, at least not Becca.
Exactly four months went by, August 1, 2006. My family and I got another life changing horrible phone call. My sister Teresa and her husband got into a motorcycle accident.
Teresa was thirty-three and a mother of three: Jasmine who today is ten, Destiny who’s five and Cordell who’s three. Bernie, Teresa’s husband, and herself were going for a bike ride when a guy with road rage followed Bernie and Teresa into the mall parking lot. This guy started yelling and screaming at Bernie. Bernie then left the mall, trying to avoid the drunken guy. Bernie and Teresa then thought everything was over when they came around the corner and was hit head on by the drunk. This all took place in front of Howards Pizza on South Ave. They both flew off the bike and hit their heads on the hard pavement. While they were both taken away by ambulance they guy that hit them, intentionally, fled to Superior. Teresa then died about 30 minutes later with massive head trauma.
Going through two of my sisters’ deaths in four months changed my whole out look and perspective on life. My life was no longer about partying, getting drunk, and taking my life for granted. I would rather stay home on a Friday or Saturday night and hangout with my family.
Somehow, some way Becca and Teresa’s deaths made me grow up. I’m eighteen and a senior in high school, living on my own, paying bills and getting by. I truly cherish who and what I have in my life. I remember to tell everyone that I love them before the day is over. Tomorrow is never promised.