Today was about as weird as it comes. I went into it convinced the day would suck and I was right but for the wrong reason. I expected to be fielding calls and e-mails all day after a major work project failed to come out on time. Instead, I was fielding calls and e-mails all day after a senseless rampage that now marks a nadir in U.S. history.
It was nice to reconnect with high school and college friends and even to be approached by strangers who noticed my Virginia Tech Alumni license plate holder. I helped my sister in Blacksburg craft a thank you note to go with the hand-delivered baked goods for the local police, who are in for some very dark days and tortured nights. We weighed how she could help the mourners. I admit I only watched a small fraction of the Boston Marathon and had trouble relating to running blogs when there was so much chaos and carnage being reported. I’m sure I’ll be fine in time for the next round of race recaps.
The last time I was on campus was on a muggy Monday in August 2005, when I spent an afternoon strolling through the various quads and keeping an eye out for campus police. The meter in front of my rental car had long expired and I was out of quarters. A thunderstorm quickly moved in while I angrily shouted into my cell phone, trying to prevent a colleague’s firing while dashing toward that Dodge Neon along the Drillfield. The situation – my vitriol, the pending violent weather – seemed so out of place with my memories of carefree, sun-soaked days calibrated by classes and the Collegiate Times.
Of course, they weren’t all like that. That’s just what I chose to remember.
Then, and now.
9 comments:
I had the same feeling and for some reason decided to check out your blog first. I actually found myself crying on the my drive home tonight listening to an Engineering Professor talk about his experience while locked in office on the floor above the killer and the what he thought was in store for the students in the days ahead. I don't know if it had to do with some allegiance I felt toward another Engineering school, or the fact that I have two children in school or simply the enormity of the tragedy .. but something got to me on a very basic level.
I've never been there and I can't imagine what you are going through, but thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I can't understand this. Not at all. What would drive a person to do such a thing? I believe violent music, video games and movies have reduced the value of life to nothing. I can't stand it.
I was going about my day yesterday, completely oblivious to the tragedy in Virginia. I was going through Bloglines and your post was the first time I heard about it.
I can only imagine what you are going through. I am glad you are helping your sister be proactive. Every little thing helps.
These senseless tragedies really get to me, even knowing no one and having never been there. My heart is heavy today.
Even without close ties like yours to V-Tech, I too felt out-of-sync... what a day it was.
When I first heard the news my heart sank. I just couldn't believe it was happening... again, just at another campus. These are our friends and family, even though we don't know them or have never been there. I had a hard time putting into words what I was feeling about this tradgety. Thank you for posting about it.
College campuses have always seemed like such safe havens to me. I guess that's something else we've lost now. Very sad.
Thank you for sharing all of this, Anne. I don't know of anyone who hasn't been affected by this tragedy. My thoughts are with all those connected to Hokie Nation.
This week's events have led me back to your blog (it's been too long since I last visited). Please know that I've been thinking about you, Gilbert, Colleen and her family this week.
oh anne, what is there left to say? there is no safe place. i was oblivious all day monday, at the marathon, and then heard when i go to the train station.
and i said to myself: i guarantee this guy left a trail of warning signs.
yay me, for guessing right.
:(
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