That is sickening to the core. It is sad to loose such great people in this world. Alcohol is the #1 killer of people every day in this country. It leads to not only impaired judgment and  loss of muscle control but it also does some of the most damage to a person’s body and our minds. From stunted brain development to liver damage, and worse ( the most sickening of all) is the taking of another's life because people can’t go without it until they get home or to where they will not be driving.( IT’s called irresponsibility!)  Which, in turn takes from everyone’s life that crossed that persons path, or line.

 I know from not only taking classes and going through some leadership camps as a child that the worst drug out there. Is Alcohol!! How is it that it is so widely used and excepted? Because of how much revenue it produces, that’s why. Most people in America don't even think of it as a drug....Because it’s “Legal”! Stop the abuse and either make alcohol illegal again, or make people wait three months to go through a back ground check to get their hands on some. (or just be responsible and care about yourself enough to care about the other lives around you!!).

Ask yourself this question, have you ever driven drunk? Do you often? Then expect at some point you will either kill or be killed when you get behind the wheel. Like a gun a car is not a toy. It is a tool built to make life easier but somehow they always seem to do more harm than good, especially when in the hands of the wrong operator.

Another life lost over this poison, so many of us have abused or will at some point or another. I just hope her death will not be in vain. There is always something to be learned from a tragedy which this is and WE as her friends, and fellow paddlers, as people have to make sure her life wasn’t taken for nothing

My most humble condolences to her family.

R.I.P Ellen.