Alcohol – A Destroyer of Dreams

(Bobby’s story submitted by Ruth – names changed)

            One Christmas morning, I received the news that a twenty-year-old young man had committed suicide. I had read about young people committing suicide and more or less accepted the fact-but this one was different. It left me number, frozen, as if all had suddenly come to an end! Oh! How much more unspeakably tragic for the family and other special loved ones?

            The young man, Bobby, had been a casual acquaintance since he was a baby. His grandmother was a class friend of mind and she always spoke of Bobby, his years in the boy scouts and shared other things he was doing.

            My two grandsons, Bobby and many other friends often ate supper together either at my home or Bobby’s grandmother’s home.

            A few days before Christmas, I was a guest in one of the daughter’s homes. Knowing Bobby was hungry she told him he could eat all that he wanted. He took her at her word. I wondered if there’d be enough for all who were there. There was.

            On Christmas Eve, Bobby was out driving and he was arrested for being intoxicated. He was put in jail for the night. The next morning the police officer thought Bobby was alright and took him home. Not much after later, Bobby shot and killed himself.

            Some thought Bobby should not have been jailed but the question is…”How many lives were saved because he was taken off the road?”

            Bobby had graduated from high school. Then he joined the military. He had in mind a particular assignment he wanted to be appointed to but applicants could not have any DWI’s on their record. Bobby already had one DWI.  He had tried to persuade the police officer to remove it, however, it would stay on his record. 

            Now, here is where I am projecting my own reasoning into Bobby’s befuddled, foggy mind. I believe that since Bobby now had two DWI’s on his record and would not have a chance at the office he truly wanted he could not find a reason to keep on living.

            Because of alcohol, the young twenty-year-old pulled the trigger, killing himself, leaving behind great grief, and “rivers of tears”.

            No one knows what went on in Bobby’s mind but his decision left behind a grieving family and lots of grieving friends.