Mr Bushke was the drug dealer/addict that collided with my Kristi’s car just two years ago. I’m not over it. I don’t think I will ever be. The family attended the sentencing at the Clackamas County courthouse and we were each given an opportunity to say something to him. This is what I said:
Mr. Buschke,
There is no amount of time; no level of punishment that you might suffer that could help you to understand the amount of suffering that you have caused this family. That’s why I don’t really care what sentence is handed down to you. But I need to tell you that you have immeasurably devastated this large family.
Kristi was my little sister. I would have done anything to protect her from anyone or anything that might hurt her. I never could have imagined that her life would end in such a needless and tragic way. She was sweet, funny, hilarious even, caring, devoted and kind.
Every day and every night I cry for her. I cry because you hurt her, you killed her by your negligence. But even more than that, I cry because I don’t have her anymore. I counted on her in so many ways. We were as close as any two human beings can be. We would talk for hours on the phone. She listened to me and offered me her advice. We spent every chance we had to be together. We traveled together. She was my best friend. We shared a past that no one else did and now she is gone and I have to figure out how to live without her.
I would hate to be you. It must be horrible.
