D-R-A-M-A...and a eulogoy of sorts

So last night, pre-show, we all learn that Michael Shelton (who ROCKS as an actor, in my opinion; he plays Old Man Strong and Hot Blades Harry) was carjacked: gun to his back, forced to drive the culprit to, I don't know, someplace, then forced out of the car, and robbed of his vehicle and phone and more, I'm sure. CRA-ZY.
Then we hear at 6:30 (our half our call, show's at 7) that Natasha Drena--who is beautiful and sweet and fabulous--had been in a car accident just a few blocks away. She was ok, and Bryan was going to pick her up so the show would be fine. But when she arrived, we learned that she had witnessed, while waiting on the cops to arrive, a man get stabbed. Yes, that's correct: She witnessed. A man. Get stabbed. Double crazy.

Finally, something that affects me very much. Tears have been shed.
One of my most favorite children that comes in here to Cookie Cutters passed away recently, not even two weeks ago in fact. His name is Max Boncosky. How curious to think back to that first day I met him. His mother--an attractive, athletic blonde around 30--brought his brother Connor and him in for a haircut. It would be Max's first. I made out his little First Haircut Certificate. I remember he smiled, as did his mom and brother. He did so well, he was so happy.
Always. Because he came back a few times, and I think I was here every time. His last visit, I remember Connor was in the chair getting his hair cut, and Mom was attending him in case he had problems--or perhaps she was supervising the stylist. Max was precocious. He was interested in the slide, the balloons, the gum ball machine, the toys, the DVDs, and the big fire truck chair where kids sit to have their hair washed. Max was just aDORable. He would take my hand and lead me around the shop, speaking the speak that only tots speak. In a shop where an employee is easily annoyed with the kids and, sometimes moreso, the parents, Max was a big bright light. Truly. Perhaps one of the most memorable, likable children I'd encountered here. I didn't say it to her, but I appreciated that his mother trusted me to watch him so (at a couple points, I remember, I picked him up and carried him).
Max would have turned 2 years old next month. He and his family's vehicle was hit from behind by a drunk driver who was going around 80 mph. Max died from blunt head trauma.

I'll be 28 in November. To this day, many of my friends and I drive after having drinking. I'd like to think that I--and they--are cogniscent enough to obey traffic laws and drive defensively. But... ...we're not.
Max Boncosky, a little boy who was barely in my life a total of an hour, has had an effect on me that will not go away anytime soon.

Please be safe. For Max's sake, don't drink and drive.

Link to the Indy Star article about Max: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050913/COLUMNISTS02/509130397/1006/NEWS01