Forward
On a Friday in September of 1985, Tammy Bluth was a beautiful senior girl who sat toward the front in my discussion class at Brainerd High School in Brainerd, Minnesota. She was full of life and fun. She had a marvelous sense of humor and a great outlook on life. It was obvious she was “going places.”
The following Monday, our entire class sat in shocked grief trying to deal with the details of Tammy’s death. On Friday night, after the football game, she had been killed by a drunken driver. Now, over 20 years later, I must admit that I could
have been that driver.
In this book, Tammy’s mother, Pat, shares her story, from the moment she hears of Tammy’s death, to the long process involved in her grief-recovery. It is a story of a journey—long and hard. It is a story of courage, of doubt and faith, of anger and rage—understandable anger and rage. Ultimately, it is a
story of hope and forgiveness that will touch any reader on numerous levels.
From Pain to Peace, however, is also a call for continued reform of our nation’s drunken driving laws. Too many people, often thinking they are not impaired, and some who know that they are, climb behind the wheels of vehicles. These vehicles become lethal weapons. Despite millions of dollars spent on anti-drinking and driving campaigns, many people still haven’t gotten the message: it is never okay to drink and drive. I was one of those
people. It took a DWI arrest for me to finally admit that I had taken other’s lives into my hands, when I got behind the wheel, after having drinks with friends at my favorite neighborhood bar. I take little solace in a recent survey where over 30% of Minnesotans acknowledge driving under the influence at one time or another. This behavior must end. The truth is: I could have killed someone.
Pat Bluth was instrumental in starting the MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers) Chapter in our area. I’ve actually heard people ridicule and curse this organization: “MADD is ruining all our fun!” Of course, these are people who have never lost a child to some drunk behind the wheel.
Perhaps the content of this book sounds a little heavy and depressing; however, it is anything but. It is a marvelous story of how love and forgiveness can conquer and win over bitterness and rage. It is a story of how God can bring healing to our deepest hurts. It is a reminder of the simple things in life and how to appreciate them. Pat shares her journey, and the accounts of her spiritual retreats provide a model that all of us can find useful. Oh, the power of silence, alone, apart from this hectic and loud world, finally able to hear the voice of God!
This is a book I wish all parents could read. We all think that our children will outlive us. That’s the way it is suppose to be. Pat’s story reminds us that every day of life is a gift from God and we must never take life for granted.
It is a book I wish all couples could read—especially couples who have encountered tragedy in their families. Pat’s husband, Gary, handled his grief so differently from Pat, and this sharp contrast could have ended their marriage, if there hadn’t been commitment and understanding.
This book should be required reading for all those who insist on drinking and driving. I thank God that those days are behind me and that I never hurt anyone, and that I never will. I pray that stories like Pat’s will find an audience who will have open ears to hear, minds to understand, and hearts to act accordingly. Everyone will find some gem from this book to store in their hearts.
—Guy R. Doud, 1985 Minnesota Teacher of the Year,
1986 National Teacher of the Year
