God and The Law

I will never forget the night I found out, my son caused a vehicular homicide DUI.  There was no helping him and I couldn't contact him.  He was truly alone with what he had caused.   My family and the victims family's life were forever changed.  How do you get through something like this? 

I already knew Kevin would not want to live... knowing what happened... but me, his mother, wanted him to live.  I called a friend, who had been in prison, I asked him how we could get through this, because I couldn't breath.  He said, the only way, was to "give back".... that lives must be saved for the life that was taken and was  the only way to get through something like this, that Kevin must make "giving back" a life purpose.  

This made sense to me, and gave me hope, but how could Kevin begin this kind of a journey in prison? 

I'd found out that Kevin was writing poems.  Some were conversations he had with God that first week.  Kevin wasn't a writer (so I thought)...Kevin was a welder.  He had an artisan welding company...but these poems were as real as you can get and very well crafted.    

Willie Nelson said "songs gives a voice to the people who don't have one".  Being a story teller/songwriter..it hit me... I told Kevin to keep writing, that his life and story will save lives... and he will never know, because they will not have died.  

I co-wrote Kevin's first poem into a song and jumped into the studio, so he could hear his words  and message come to life.  Kevin was raised, with me out playing music in bars and moving to Nashville after he graduated highschool.... for the first time, the music is for him and now his message as well.  In a state of confusion and wanting to die... Kevin heard the song, and knew what to do... he began writing like nothing I'd ever seen before.  He grabbed the life line and started kicking.  He told me, "mom, people will listen to me because of what I've done".  I said "yes Kevin...write, write, write, you'll never be in this moment again".  

That first year Kevin wrote about 300 poems and lyrics.  He has truly captured rock bottom, AND a road to redemption.

The Title Track, from the new album "43", is a poem that Kevin wrote on his birthday.  He turned 43 in prison.  Two of his poems were combined to make one song...I told him people need to know what it's like having a birthday in prison.  He said we could make keychains that say "43, You Hold The Keys".  

We are hoping the song 43 will stick in someones head, before driving under the influence, or help in someones daily decision, to stay sober.  

Kevin's wish is that the man who died and his wife, will never be forgotten through  these stories and songs.  We hope the widow and families find some healing in this as well.  During sentencing I learned, Mike Locke (deceased),  was a welder and guitar player... I really can't help but believe, that he is helping guide all of this.  

To my granddaughters.... my thoughts have been with you this whole way.  My hopes are that you can see, bad things do happen in life, and it depends on what you do with it, when it happens.  I hope the work your father puts in, will save lives... I hope that all of us will be empowered to talk about this tragedy, to help us heal and help others as well.  Learning about addictions, the effects and talking about it, will heal... and hopefully heal a family back together.

"You Hold The Keys"

"Don't drink and drive, it kills good people"... Kevin

Stay tuned!!

Penny