I will never say that bad things have to happen for us to appreciate the good, nor will I say that things happen for a reason, in the sense that there is a bigger picture or grand design. A terrible thing happened because I made the worst decision of my life, and someone lost their's because of it. Now, after working hard and trying to be the best person I can be, not just for myself but for my family, my friends, and my community, I am engaged and about to buy a house. All the good I could ever do in the world will never erase what I've done, and to be fair, that's not why I'm doing everything because I know I can never make amends. It does make me have nothing but gratitude, appreciation, and respect for what I do have. As always, thank you for listening. -db