Difficult Days at Altitude
BAD day At Altitude today.
We have known that a murder trial would start today. And in the relatively small town of Denver, this is big news. A Denver Bronco (Darrent Williams) gunned down several years ago, and the trial finally started today.
As much as I would like to act as if this is a distant occurrence that has no relevance in my life.............it strikes too close to home.
I have walked those halls and sat in those pews.
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The plan was for the local news stations to live stream the audio of the trial. And yes, I planned to listen as much as I could. At the last moment, the Judge decided against allowing media to live stream. So we were waiting to hear news reports as they came. I heard some taped segments of the trial as I drove home tonight. Strangely enough, I know the defense attorney........a high school classmate of mine.
While focused on this trial, a phone call from The Husband alerted me to the fact that there was yet another school shooting, this time only 3 miles from Columbine.
No doubt news all over the country.
No fatalities. Big SIGH.
But wounds were opened all around.
As much as I would have liked to look beyond all these news reports...................I sat in my rocking chair tonight, watching all the news, and felt the tears running down my cheeks.
I apologized for my tears to The Husband....................but couldn't help but think of the days that murder trials were a part of my day to day life.
And I wish I could erase the mental images of the Columbine funerals I attended.
Just yesterday, an employee of mine, closed the door to my office and spent a few minutes crying.
He has experienced a chain of tragic circumstances and came to tell me about the latest.
I realized in that moment, that all the tragedies I have lived through........... have given me the understanding and compassion to hold the hand of people in that moment.
There are times I wish that all the pain was washed away from my memories..............and then I realize my pain is a gift to those who need someone to hold their hand and understand.
We have known that a murder trial would start today. And in the relatively small town of Denver, this is big news. A Denver Bronco (Darrent Williams) gunned down several years ago, and the trial finally started today.
As much as I would like to act as if this is a distant occurrence that has no relevance in my life.............it strikes too close to home.
I have walked those halls and sat in those pews.
Click for Story
The plan was for the local news stations to live stream the audio of the trial. And yes, I planned to listen as much as I could. At the last moment, the Judge decided against allowing media to live stream. So we were waiting to hear news reports as they came. I heard some taped segments of the trial as I drove home tonight. Strangely enough, I know the defense attorney........a high school classmate of mine.
While focused on this trial, a phone call from The Husband alerted me to the fact that there was yet another school shooting, this time only 3 miles from Columbine.
No doubt news all over the country.
No fatalities. Big SIGH.
But wounds were opened all around.
As much as I would have liked to look beyond all these news reports...................I sat in my rocking chair tonight, watching all the news, and felt the tears running down my cheeks.
I apologized for my tears to The Husband....................but couldn't help but think of the days that murder trials were a part of my day to day life.
And I wish I could erase the mental images of the Columbine funerals I attended.
Just yesterday, an employee of mine, closed the door to my office and spent a few minutes crying.
He has experienced a chain of tragic circumstances and came to tell me about the latest.
I realized in that moment, that all the tragedies I have lived through........... have given me the understanding and compassion to hold the hand of people in that moment.
There are times I wish that all the pain was washed away from my memories..............and then I realize my pain is a gift to those who need someone to hold their hand and understand.
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