More’s the pity.

The impression I got from the Gagnon family was a sense of entitlement. There is no doubt in my mind that Mike and Sam both thought they were invincible and above the judgement of their peers. I cannot say for sure how time transformed them as I have since moved away and don’t really keep in contact with my old classmates (but for a few).

I regret to say that I was not surprised to learn that Mike was behind the wheel, nor was I surprised to learn that Sam had already received a DUI and was, by most definitions, an enabler to Mike’s crime.

To the folks that defend Mike or try to downplay his crime:

Imagine, for a moment, that you are a surviving member of the Griffin family. Each and every Christmas, you will relive the pain, sorrow and unimaginable terror of Dec 2007. It’s likely that you would relive your nightmare anually for the rest of your life. With each birthday of a lost family member, you can only celebrate by visiting their grave. Songs on the radio, shows on television, a simple flower or food dish… all of those things could trigger a flashback or memory of a loved one that is gone. And it could be that way for the rest of your life. No matter where you go, who you date, how you grow as a person… you always carry the burden of a tragedy, and you always carry your loved ones lost.

Now imagine you are Mike Gagnon. Each Christmas you will wake up behind bars, eat a hot breakfast, and be escorted to a guarded room where you will be able to see your family and even exchange gifts. Then you return to your cell where you mark off another year on your calendar and count the hours until you are a free man again. When you are permitted to re-enter society, you will have the entitlements of rejoining the workforce, contributing to society and most importantly: you will be able to build a family.

To some of us, these things are not really within our mind’s grasp. But they are happening right now.

As to the above, it started out with a lot of hatred–why shouldn’t it? It was a function of grief for Bethany, the girls and various survivors. I live in North Carolina, and work a lot of hours, so it made it difficult in the beginning to provide any sort of real support to my friends who were affected by this tragedy. Helplessness leads to more anger and frustration, and ultimately to a cycle of grief and anger. I was so frustrated with the way the courts seemed to be handling things, I retained counsel and started using the old Contact lists to gather information about the ordeal. I was also informed what the blitz of media from Michael’s family was probably related to by an attorney friend, so I worked, very, very hard to make certain PYSIH will always be at the top of the Google Searches when you enter in Michael Gagnon’s name. Call it geek cred or using my work skills for good, but Michael Gagnon belongs on this website in glowing marquee, and I aim to help.

So:
1. Not Home all day
2. Been busy
3. Am an Employee: Pending verification of course
4. Didn’t list an Important job title I didn’t have

I’ll need that savings of yours in the form of a Cashier’s check.