It's taken me a few days to realize the gravity of what happened the night of July 20th, 2012. Especially after aging my mom beyond anything else I've ever done: I went to that premiere but didn't tell her what theater I was at and she was watching tv as the story broke at 2:30 in the morning. It's a miracle she has her sanity and a full head of hair after worrying until 3:15 when I finally got back to my phone and returned her text and 8 missed calls. After getting off the phone and telling the friends I was with what happened, they texted/called their parents to let them know they were ok too and then we turned on the tv. A scene of terror and confusion met our eyes and overwhelmed us. The shock and nausea that followed seemed like a looming cloud for days.
I remember when Columbine happened but was too young to understand the true depth of it. Of course, I was old enough to understand when it was Virginia Tech, and found myself so interested in this particular phenomenon that I wrote a paper on it for my college English class. Even after all the research and the time I spent on that paper, I can honestly tell you I still don't understand why these things happen. It's completely unnecessary and senseless, and I'll never know what to say about it other than that it's a tragedy I can never pray enough that it never happens to me or someone I know or love.
It seems like no matter how tragic these things are they have an inexplicable way of bringing people and communities together. Not that this makes it acceptable or is supposed to be some sort of consolation. In all the hoping that something good would come of this, it seems like someone heard those prayers: Christian Bale visits victims of Aurora shooting, as well as the president's visit and the outpouring of support from around the city to the nurses, police officers and victims.
As awful as shootings are, the human spirit has a way of mimicking a pheonix and rising out of the ashes and enduring. Hopefully the rest of the year gets better than the summer Colorado has had this year.
Here's something to make you laugh after the post that leaves me teary eyed and breathless:
BAT DOG!!!!
AKA Bentley, the most adorable, grumpy-faced part of my summer.
