I need to write about the shooting, but I can't. I mean I literally can't. This is my 5th or 6th attempt and I inevitably get dragged down into cliches or wander off into nonsensical wonderings or end up staring out the window, chin in hand. But I have to write about it, have to get some sense of it across.
I've never been this close to a tragedy. In 2002 a disgruntled former student shot up the Nursing College at the University of Arizona, killing 3 people. That was sad, but I didn't feel personally touched by it. The school was off campus and I didn't know anyone there. But Jared Loughner went to my middle school and high school, albeit several years after me. This is less than 8 Degrees of Kevin Bacon: we probably have at least one teacher in common. My family shops at the Walmart that sold him ammunition. I drive by that Safeway several times a week.
It's not just close, it's bloody unexpected. Violent things have happened at the U of A before. The city of Tucson itself has seen violence. But the shooting was on the Northwest side of town, in the beigest of suburbia, where people start to mingle with desert. Across the street from that Safeway is a Wild Oats, for god's sake! People don't die across from a Wild Oats!
Sigh.
That's all for now.
4 comments:
Hey there Suse, its been a crazy few weeks. I hope you are doing well. I put down some thoughts, but I agree with you... It is difficult to know what is appropriate and weighty enough.
http://mgmstudious.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/giffords-a-tribute-liking-a-movie-for-5-words/
Mike
This link is easier to click
He lived about 2 blocks from my house. I've walked past this house so many times but had no clue who lived there. Just hearing the address I immediately knew the house. He went to the same elementary as well as the others for me. This means when I was in 6th grade, he was in kindergarten.
I need to write some thoughts about this too. Things seem impossible to cope with, but in reality things are merely very difficult to cope with.
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