The Tree House: Howard's Unfinished Story
Each day nine people are killed by distracted driving, leaving their stories unfinished. We honored Howard by bringing his Unfinished Story to life, through imagining what could have been. Watch, share and please don’t drive distracted.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(DESCRIPTION)
A Travelers red umbrella centers on the screen.
(DESCRIPTION)
Emily Stein
Howard’s Daughter
(SPEECH)
[EMILY]
My dad, Howard, was a self-taught carpenter. But when he walked into this studio, this workshop, he became an artist. Every morning, from as young as I can remember, he would be in the shop building pieces of furniture, creating things. He really had a vision.
In the middle of the night, we got a phone call. My dad was driving home from work, and he pulled over on the side of the road to secure a tarp on his truck. And a distracted driver who was programming her GPS swerved out of her lane and hit him.
It was just devastating. Everything in my body just said this was so preventable.
I was pregnant with Evie, the first grandchild that my dad never got to meet.
She loves to draw. And every day I think about my dad and how I imagine he would bring her into his workshop and invite her to work on a project with him.
I think he would have loved to do that.
(DESCRIPTION)
[ON SCREEN TEXT]
In Howard’s honor, we imagined his unfinished story.
(DESCRIPTION)
[BUZZING CELL PHONE]
A cell phone’s GPS buzzes and begins to recalculate. Driver reaches down and suddenly swerves away from the truck, just missing hitting it.
[ANIMATED SCENE]
Man in workshop, sanding and looking into the yard with the swing he made for his granddaughter. Howard walks out into the yard holding his granddaughter and puts her in the swing.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Let’s pass the time, me and you, you and me. Let’s pass the time just you and me. There’s never ever been two friends quite like we. Let’s pass the time, just you and me. We’ll go where the wind will take us. See what we can see. Let’s have adventures, you and me. You’re my best friend, and I’m yours too. Through thick and thin, whether it’s gray skies or blue. We’ve got a love, and it’s never going to end. You’re my best friend. Let’s be together me and you, you and me. Let’s be together, you and me. There’s no other place I know, that I would rather be. Let’s be together you and me. There’s no other place I know, that I would rather be. Let’s be together you and me. You’re my best friend.
(DESCRIPTION)
[ANIMATED SCENE]
Howard and his granddaughter in his workshop building together.
[ON SCREEN TEXT]
Distracted driving takes the lives of 9 people each day.
Leaving their stories unfinished.
Howard Stein 1950 - 2011
(DESCRIPTION)
Travelers Every Second Matters initiative logo.
Travelers.com/distracteddriving
