We had invited a young couple to dinner, in order to say good-bye, as we were moving from Twin Falls to Houston and we probably would never get to visit with them again. We ate dinner and had spent a couple of hours together reminiscing about things that we had shared together, when Gene asked “so when are you two getting married?”

They were deeply in love and had been happily together for several years with two small boys; so it seemed odd that they had chosen not to marry. Mark quickly replied, “we have wanted to get married for so long, but I just can’t seem to get the money together for a ring. I want it to be nice and work has been so slow, we just can’t set aside enough money.” Embarrassed, Sue looked wistfully down at her empty ring finger and said softly, “I really wish we could make it happen.” I tried to ignore it, but my mind kept saying over and over “give her the ring, give her the ring, give her the ring”.  I happened to have  a wedding ring that was in it’s original box tucked away in a drawer. I really didn’t want it, but hadn’t wanted to just throw it away or sell it. This, would be the perfect solution for us all. I told them about the ring and asked them if I gave them the ring and it fit would they consider using it? I went to get it.

The ring slipped on Sue’s finger as if it had been made just for her. Leaving, they thanked us over and over excitedly telling us they would get married and it would be her ring. This was the last time we ever saw them and I have wondered over these many years if they indeed did get married using the ring.

A few years later, someone told me that Mark had been walking across the street in downtown Twin Falls and an impaired driver hit and killed him. This was ironic, because by this time Mark had several years in recovery.

I can’t help but think of this every time I say in the DUI/Risk Reduction class,  I’ve got to die of something, or I could get  killed by simply crossing the street.” This curriculum is so real for me, and I find it difficult  at times to keep my composure as I teach.

Anyone who completes the Prime for Life course and takes it seriously, will leave with new tools to help them with future life problems; whether with alcohol or drugs or other life’s stumbling blocks.