The average speed of vehicles on I-4 in the vicinity of the fairgrounds exit is probably 75-85 mph. Knowing my son made the illegal and insanely suicidal decision to cross this highway on foot at night, I would have rejected any suggestion of a public vigil for him, or any other kind of public ceremony to celebrate his life. I would be ashamed to hell and back of my obvious failure as a parent to have not instilled in my son basic commonsense during the entire fourteen years he lived under my supervision. And afraid other children might misunderstand any celebration of his life and see him as a hero or role model. What are these people thinking? Do they even think?
I once stopped when I saw two little girls, about 8-9 years old walking along a freeway exit ramp. While waiting for the police, I asked where they were going. One said she was going to Grandma’s house and could I give them a ride. “Uhh, NO.” Turns out they crossed both sides of a major interstate during rush hour. When the police officer arrived, he gave them a very graphic description of what their remains should have looked like. It was amazing they survived and pathetic that no one cared to call the cops.