Drunk Driving: Lessons Learned from Behind the Wheel
In jail with hookers.
That’s where I spent my 25th birthday.
The girls I was in with? Seriously, the best. They looked out for me and gave me their bologna sandwiches and listened to me cry for hours on end. They sang me happy birthday and I learned that they had families and stories, too. I guess what I am trying to say is, never judge a hooker by her Lucites.*
Anyway, I am so lucky to have been there.
Because I could have been dead. Or worse, someone else could have been dead.
But, everyone was alive and I was sitting in a jail cell with a pounding headache.
And I was still pretty drunk.
In the cutest little birthday dress.
My face was black with mascara from crying so hard and begging like a belligerent, little, spoiled brat not to be arrested.
“Hmph! I’m not a criminal!”
Freezing cold.
Hungry.
So damn terrified.
I woke up in jail not remembering what had happened.
I’ve been told that I’d fought with my boyfriend, taken my car keys, gotten into my car and tried to drive home, tried being the operative word because I didn’t make it very far. I had an accident with an apartment gate and another car. A car with a person in it. An innocent, hard working woman, driving home from her second job at two in the morning.
I was drunk and I hit her with my car.
The thought of that, eight years later, still makes me shiver with the what could have beens.
What if she had gotten hurt?
Or worse.
I was so incredibly ashamed. With good reason.
Sitting in jail for 15 hours was the single worst experience ever.
And I won’t even talk about how much the entire experience cost financially.
But, I am so grateful.
For all of it.
Because what if I hadn’t gotten arrested that night? What if I’d picked up those keys again, the next weekend, after drinking too much?
*Shudders.*
So, I am not here to tell you to stop enjoying your nights out, or your good wines, or your holiday parties.
Because I certainly didn’t.
But, I did stop acting like an irresponsible jerk.
Don’t you be one.
Don’t get behind the wheel after you’ve had anything to drink.
It’s not worth it.
Grow up.
Take a cab.
Or call a friend.
And enjoy yourself.
Happy and safe holidays to you!
*tangent
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Allison Zapata decided to start a blog at three in the morning, while up sobbing with her crying newborn. She loves to write, but doesn't call herself a writer. She doubts herself often, and is known to have mini-meltdowns on the regular. Allison resides in Texas with her often embarrassed husband, two sons, two dogs, and one asshole cat. 
Truer words never spoken. I will *always* take a friend home or let them use my debit card to pay for a cab if it is the choice between that and driving.
Cabs are the best! :)
In Chicago a company recently began offering a service where they sent a driver to you, to drive your car for you. They said it cost around $45 for a night out, you used your car and got door to door service. Split among a group of friends, it seems pretty reasonable.
That? Is awesome!!! Considering my DWI was the same price as a small car, 45 bucks sounds great!!
Done that too. Didnt have an accident though. Same thing though. Fight with boyfriend, storming out of bar. And no, those mug shots arent pretty with your makeup all over your face. I just dont do it either anymore, and thank God nothing worse happened.
And you’re a cop! hahaha! I kid.
But, yeah, we are lucky we are here and not dead (or in jail). Lessons learned, right?
xoxo
It’s so awesome that you actually LEARNED from your mistake. Far too many people just don’t. Thanks for sharing this story with us!
Thanks, Amy!! I SO LEARNED. It’s been eight years and there has been no more of that nonsense :)
I had to pick up a vehicle once, that was being driven by a drunk driver. It sucked. Also likely helped me avoid that fate. (No collision in that case, just ‘erratic driving’ that made the cop pull him over.)
We always take a cab & are sure to leave the car someplace it won’t be towed the next morning, or take public transpo there in the first place.
I’ve heard of having a tow truck take you & your car home after a night out! If you’re friends with a driver, it may even be free.
;-)
Yes, I am a huge cab advocate. It is SO NOT WORTH IT. And its so much fun for everyone to just enjoy themselves and know they have a safe ride home! xoxoxo
YOU ARE 100% right. So lucky it wasn’t worse. One of my big issues are the normally sane non criminal and responsible people that have a driver and then once they get home they hop in their car to go pick up their kids from a baby sitter after a holiday party. DON’T even if you don’t plan on drinking at all, pay the sitter for overnight care ahead of time. My daughter babysat for 10 couples one New Years Eve when she was 16. When the people showed up for their kids, she refused to give the children to them. She said I can not in good conscience put these kids in your car. I know your a cop, cops die and kill people too or I understand you’re a lawyer so sue me when you sober up. They were all pissed at her, I was proud of her at 16 for being that smart. Of course they all chilled out the next day and she didn’t charge them for the extra hours.
GOOD FOR HER!! What an awesome thing she did!! :) XOXO
Wow! So glad you’re ok & that you’re sharing your experience with your readers. Such a valuable lesson to recount, especially when there are so many holiday parties all around us.
Thanks :) I figured this was the perfect time to share it :) XOXO
I experienced something very much like this several years ago; fight with boyfriend … Ever since then I am all about the designated driver which typically turns out to be me.
third person to say “fight with a boyfriend”. MEN HMPH! :)
So glad you’re ok and nothing beats a DD. xoxo
As someone who had their life irreparably changed by a drunk driver, I am glad that you learned, and changed. My mother and I were in a car accident when I was two. I broke both of my legs (injuries that still plague me 24 years later) and she was killed.
I try to speak out, in her honor as often as I can
(http://colormeuntypical.blogspot.com/p/you-could-save-life.html)
So I want to thank you, for doing the same thing from a different perspective.
Oh wow. I am so so so sorry for all that you have been through. Thank you so much for sharing that link and your story. I’m on my way to check it out. Big huge hug to you. XOXO
We all learn things in our life experiences. I’ve done some pretty dumb things too (most of them have names), but I learned. Just like you. And then we teach others what we know. One of my favourite quotes is:
Learn from others mistakes, life isn’t long enough to make them all yourself.
Right on.
I haven’t EVER done it again. NEVER WILL.
XOXO
My condolences, thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing Allison. I don’t have the “fight with the boyfriend” excuse, but I have had “but i’m more sober than him.” I thank god I was let go WTH was that cop thinking?! I made it home, had him clean up his own puke and passed out. We’re lucky scenario didn’t play out in a more horrible manner.
It’s awfully sobering to think about how bad things could have been.
xoxo
Thanks for having the balls to share your story. People can never be reminded enough about drinking & driving.
It took me a long time to talk about it openly b/c I was so ashamed. But, i know its important and I know FAR too many ppl still do it.
Thanks for reading. XOXO
You lived and learned. Now you are sharing your story to help others, that is nothing to ashamed about :)
I live in a small village and we were rocked with the deaths of 3 teenagers because of drinking and driving. It devastated the community, yet shockingly many of those (mostly adults) still continue to drink and drive. It totally baffles me!
Proud of you for sharing!!! Wish the people here in Laredo would listen!!! So many of your friends haven’t learned from your experience!!! Too much drinking, seems to be the favorite passtime here!!! Love you!!!!
I know!!! People don’t think anything will happen to them. Until it does, and then its too late.
Thanks, Mom! XOXO
I always say….”Only assholes drink and drive…just because you have one doesn’t mean you should be one.”
yep! I was a TOTAL asshole back then.
I know so many people that could learn from this. Sadly they are all the type of people that will have to learn the hard way. That makes me sad.
Same here. Sad. :(
I SO hope your “coming out” helps stop others from making the same mistake, or worse.
Same here, Angie!!! I cringe when people don’t listen to me. So scary and dangerous.
xoxo
Amen, sister! All too many people spend that time in jail and come out ready to beat the system better the next time. I hate it! If you drink…don’t drive. Period. :)
P.S. I’m very glad you and everyone else were ok.
Thank you!!!
And I hate it, too. SUCH A DICK MOVE!
XOXO
Thank you for this! I always hear after-the-fact from friends who drove after drinking. Even a little buzz is not okay, as it slows your relfexes! Drinking and driving is NOT okay! Thank you, thank you. I’m so glad you had this lesson to share.
Thanks for reading!! XOXO
I applaud your bravery in coming out about this. It such a meaningful story from the perspective of someone who has been there, done that and learned a life lesson.
I am so glad that you — and the other driver — were not hurt. HUGS.
I want to be proud of you for learning and growing and trying to prevent future incidents, I truly do. I do respect your message. I am however, pissed as hell! There is no excuse for DUI/DWI — none, and it is my line in the sand.
Could not agree more!! There is no excuse!! However, this is my truth and I cannot change that, as much as I wish I could. All I can do is share my story and say how sorry I am for making such a bad decision.
I am a different person now than I was 8 years ago when it happened…and it would never happen again.
Thanks for your comment.
XOXO