Message to all parents

[wineguruchgo]

Please don't judge when you read what I'm about to write. We all wish the outcome was different.

My sister and family went to Nashville on Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday with friends on their farm. Everyone was excited to get out of Dodge and the kids were really excited to go to a real farm.

About two hours into the day the tragedy happened. The boys (age 12 & 13) were outside playing. No one thought they would have to watch them closely because they weren't babies. Well, my nephew got hit in the eye with a paint ball and is now blind in one eye. Parents, please keep your kids away from these things. I know they will think it's fun. If you find that you are going to run into an arguement over it, contact me and I will have my 12 year old nephew write to them.

This is so tragic and should not have happened. These paint guns are as lethal as guns with bullets and should be stored accordingly. Lock them up and use only when supervised by an adult.

Thanks for listening.

[Innkeeper]

Thanks for sharing that. We had a problem up here about ten years ago with groups running through the woods shooting those things at each other. It seems to have gone away for the most part.

[winoweenie]

My most hearfelt sympathies Wineguru. Seems like there's always a tragedy lurking to embellish and intrude on a joyful occassion. WW

[Auburnwine]

Man, that's tough. As the parent of an 11-year-old, I know how quickly such things can happen. We've got to watch them like hawks, but we have to give them enough rope to let them develop independence. It's a fine line.

I do hope that the boys have someone (professional or otherwise) to talk through this with. One has the loss, the other has the guilt.

Last night we went to a visitation for one of my son's buds who died from cancer, a sweet little boy with a cherubic smile and a joyous disposition. For him, Death was an angel of mercy.

[Thomas]

wineguru, can't see how anyone would be upset by or judgmental about your message--it makes perfect sense to warn people about the danger of those things, especially after your family's personal involvement.

Hope others with children take heed.

[Bucko]

Being cranky as I am, ANYTHING can be dangerous without proper supervision. I almost lost an eye due to a slingshot. Fortunately it barely missed and hit me in the head, thus causing no injury..... [img]http://38.118.142.245/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Dumb $hits that we were, we used to have BB gun wars as kids. I'm sure I'd dust some britches now for the same stupid stuff that I used to do as a kid.

[wondersofwine]

My sympathies to the nephew and his family regarding the paintball tragedy. Also to
the son that lost his friend to cancer. I lost an adult friend to cancer about three years ago and it still aches. I got the news at work by e-mail from a mutual friend and could barely hold it together for the rest of the workday.

[wineguruchgo]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. Both families are devistated and this really hasn't impacted my nephew yet because he is reveling in all of the attention right now. I went there today to see how he is myself and he is the same snotty little pre-teen that he was last week! I guess that didn't get knocked out of him.

He is at the specialist right now so hopefully with technology over the next few years, things might turn a corner for him.

Again, thanks for your kind words. You're a great group.

[tandkvd]

That is an awfull tradgety. I am truly sorry to here about your nephew.

[Georgie]

What a nightmare. I'm so sorry for your nephew and the rest of your family. It was a good thing to share that warning with others.