How I Remember Itby Jennifer McCormick Saturday morning, December 11, 1999, my sister Karrie was sitting on the couch in her pajamas. I ran out the door to go to work and remember not even saying goodbye to her. When I finally made it home, it was about 10:00 p.m. that night. Dad, Mom, Jason, and Kellie were snug in bed. My other brother, Andy, was staying overnight with his friend Jason. I noticed Karrie's car wasn't home, yet didn't think much about it. After getting ready for bed and saying my daily novena, I studied for finals on Monday. I went to bed about 11:00 and remember tossing and turning, looking frequently at the clock. For some unknown reason, I felt worried and began to cry. I found myself praying, thanking God for everything and asking Him to take care of me and my family and bring us all home safely. The sounds of a train passing through town and later the sounds of sirens kept me awake. At about 12:15 a.m., Karrie's friend, Aimee, called to check on her. Aimee told me Karrie had been at her boyfriend's house and she was worried that Karrie wasn't home yet. I then called Karrie's boyfriend in Newton. He said that Karrie had left about Midnight. Since she wasn't home by now, something had to be wrong. I got ready to go look for her and was digging through my purse for keys when Dad walked in and asked what was going on. After telling him of my concerns for Karrie, he wanted to go with me. Mom got up and I explained about Karrie while Dad dressed. She put on a pot of coffee and told us to come right back. Headed for the highway toward the sound of sirens, we could see there was a wreck. After making a U-turn to get to the other side of the railroad tracks, I stopped at the stop sign and yielded to the slow-moving ambulance. Driving up over the hill, I knew it was my sister, Karrie. Dad told me to wait as he went to talk with the officers. I got impatient and ran to be with him. The officers said that there had been a two-car wreck with one fatality. Dad gave the officers his name and told them his daughter should have been traveling on this highway but wasn't home yet. We stood in the cold for what seemed like hours. Then, from out of the lights came the shadows of officers. One officer took off his hat and pointed his flashlight at a driver's license, saying, "Mr. McCormick, if you are the father of Karrie Lee McCormick, she was the fatality in the wreck." Dad caught me and we hugged, tightly, breathlessly. An acquaintance from the Fire Department drove us home. As we entered our home, Mom was standing in the living room. Dad said, "We lost her," and she fell back in shock, missing the recliner. Dad then went to Jason and Kellie. I called Andy to come home, waiting until he got there to explain the horrifying news. Before we knew it, family and friends were crowded at our house with thoughts, love, and, most of all, prayers. Our pastor arrived to comfort and pray with us. It's amazing how much your life can change in a split second, either for good or bad. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even though we may not see the reason. God does take care of us. When I prayed that He would bring Karrie home, He did - to her eternal home - where we all hope to be one day. I know she is still with us. |
