இரா. செல்வராசு

ஃபிராங்கின் மூலக் கடிதத்தை இங்கு பதியும் முன்னர் அவரிடம் தெரிவிக்க மடல் அனுப்பி இருந்தேன். இது போன்ற துர்ச்சம்பவங்களைத் தவிர்க்க உதவுமானால் மகிழ்ச்சியோடு பகிர்ந்து கொள்கிறேன் என்று பதில் அனுப்பி இருந்தார். விபத்திற்கு அவர் மகன் உட்கொண்ட மதுவும் பெரும் காரணம் போலும். எத்தனையோ முறை ஒருதந்தையாக அறிவுறுத்தியும் கேட்காமல் போய்விட்டானே என்னும் வருத்தம் அவர் மடலில் தென்பட்டது. இருப்பினும் அவன் எல்லோராலும் விரும்பப் பட்டவன் என்று இன்றும் கூறுகிற அவர் எழுத்தில் ஒரு பெருமிதமும் தெரிகிறது.

குடித்துத் தான் ஆகவேண்டும் எனில் போதை தெளியும் வரை குப்புறப் படுத்துக் கிடங்கள். காரில் மட்டும் ஏற வேண்டாம்!

Subject: To my son Charles and some others who need to know how I am now, they can pass it on


Charlie,

I don’t know your e-mail address now, but you will receive this I’m sure.

The State Police at Troop A spent an hour with me today. They helped turn me around to be able to function better back in the real world, which has some unpleasant surprises for all, in life.

You went over the center line around the curve, perhaps too fast was the reason, both parties had only 1.5 seconds to react, and you both met in the middle.

Too bad someone didn’t go for the ditch, but Son, the trooper wanted me and you to know it is called an accident.

Accidents can be very tragic as this one was for you and an occupant in the other vehicle, but it was not intentional and if you had a choice, the curve would have been taken differently now. Perhaps you would have stayed at home with your mother and sister at 1:30 a.m. that early morning and not have been on the road.

There are two things you need to know Son, and as this is not a private communication, the first thing you need to know is that your Father is going to be OK, along with Sis and your Mom, and niece Alexis. Trust me on this.

Secondly you need to know there is no blame straight from the troopers, they want all of us know it’s an accident, and they see it all the time. You made a mistake, it was not intentional.

We have to be thankful for public servants like Traffic Field Consultant Officer P.L. Bellue, III, badge no. 1907. His nickname is “Trey”. he is an expert on analyzing accidents, and he said it was obvious you were doing your best to correct to your lane, and nearly made it. The other driver didn’t know this for sure and decided to head for your lane also. It was over in a split second, and I am assured neither of you felt a thing, yourself or the passenger in the other vehicle. The driver of the Tacoma pickup truck survived. So there was mercy in tragedy, be well with your Maker.

Trey said he was just like you at a younger age, about 23, same as you and now he is a policeman. Other troopers said the same, they are surprised they made it and their Dads were always on their case, like me with you.. He saw your pictures (school and work ones and others) and was impressed with you and thought you would make a fine policeman. He even lost control of a police car once and injured two people, he said he was just lucky it wasn’t worse, and it was also an accident, and he also lost control of the vehicle.

By the way, the desk Sergeant at Troop A remembers giving you a speeding ticket not too long ago. I’ll need to talk with you about that in private.

You have suffered enough, so have we, it is time to go back to work. We will miss you, and do good things, inspired by your wonderful life cut short. And we have wonderful, lasting memories of you and us together, and we were very proud you were our Son.

Please do your homework there and fly safely.

Your loving Dad.