random

Sorry I haven't blogged lately, life has been busy. It happens. I will do a back-to-school post, but first I have something more important to talk about.


Imagine that you are a young woman, with a boyfriend, a good job as a baker, and family, friends, and co-workers who love you. You have just spent the evening celebrating your 21st birthday at your favorite neighborhood restaurant with those friends and family. You tried a Chocolate Martini, for the first time! But it is a Wednesday night, and as a baker, you know you need to cut the evening short, as you need to be up at the crack of dawn.


Your father is in the car parked behind yours, waving through the windshield as you and your boyfriend load your gifts into the trunk of your car. From out of nowhere, a car comes exploding into the parking lot at 100 mph, crashing into cars, and pinning you and your boyfriend between the two vehicles.


This isn't fiction. It happened to Mary Plaster, a dear young woman who works at La Patisserie here in St. Paul. The day of her birthday, I was her last customer of the day, picking up the cake they had made for the Lane's anniversary party. We had laughed about what she would drink that night, and I had filed away the notion of trying a Chocolate Martini. I had given her a birthday hug and wished her well.


And in a moment, her life will never be the same. The man who caused all of the destruction was a known drug dealer, who had stolen a car and was trying to evade the police. After he hit all of the vehicles, he tried to run.


Mary has lost one of her legs, and today went through her third surgery. Her boyfriend's legs are still there, but full of steel rods and pins to hold things together. Her father's head is full of stitches, and other people injured in the nightmare are still in the hospital.


My heart goes out to her. There will be fundraisers, and ways we can help. I will keep you posted.


Life is random, treasure each day that is given to you.