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Friday, December 14, 2012

How Quickly Things Change

I was going to write a post today about how the noises in my office are driving me crazy.

Then before walking down to get lunch I heard the news of a school shooting. By the time I got back to my desk unconfirmed reports of the number of dead were trickling through out news feeds.

How quickly things change.

I distinctly remember arguing with my mother the morning of 9/11, and being so irritated when she dropped me off.

I remember sitting in a class room and watching as the second plane hit. I had school friends whose parents worked at the Pentagon, whose parents and family lived/worked/traveled in NYC.

In that moment, my 15 year old self just wanted my mommy.

I called and she came.

I spent the rest of that day and the next several after never straying to far from my mother and even sleeping in her room.

This morning I was annoyed with Boomer. She had done several naughty things, that she knew were against the rules or that would get her in trouble.

I walked her to the school building and instructed her to behave and have a good day at school. I then bent over, kissed her, said I love you and I'll see you this evening.

I watched her walk into the building and then I went on to work.

How many parents in Connecticut had a similar morning? How many were rushed, or had a tense morning, and now search for their children? How many had their last conversations with their children this morning?

Events like these shake us to our core, and make us question everything. Who does something like this? What motivates these actions? What can we do to stop these terrible things?

I don't have any answers obviously. When I pick Boomer up after work today, I will hug her and kiss her until she makes me stop. Sure, she will do something else to drive me crazy, but I'm her mommy. And right now I just want my baby.

4 comments:

Ashley said...

Words can't describe how awful this is. :( So much loss of innocent life.

We stayed with Lucas today for his Christmas program so he was only away from me for a few minutes. Lots of snuggling in his future whether he likes it or not.

Whitney Ellen said...

I just can't imagine... All of this.
Hug that sweet baby girl of yours tight for me tonight.

Unknown said...

I cannot imagine what those poor parents are going through. My heart goes out to anyone who has lost a child.
It is so true that we easily get annoyed/angry/frustrated at small things that, in the whole spectrum of things, are not remotely important.

Heather @ Cookies For Breakfast said...

Well done, Whit - this is an amazing post - so thoughtful and thought-provoking - just what I needed as I try to emotionally recover from this horrible tragedy.