Drunken driving is one of the most unfortunate ways to get injured or die because it can be avoided.
I was sad to read about death of your friend at such a young age but I was happy to read about how you loved him and cherish his memories.
It is a natural instinct to cheer up anyone who seems sad. But I agree with you that grief has its own natural process and everyone has their own way to deal with it. It is important to give space and keep the channel of communication open. Easier said than done but must be done. I think the ending paragraph on grief is a very important takeaway for all readers.
Thank you for sharing about your friend and about this very important message about grief.