Loose Leaf Notes

I wish there was more I could do but I'm sending my love too.

I was really moved by this post. It's only the second blog post I've read on the Virginia Tech shootings, which, when I realized I had scrolled through a large handful of blogs tonight without reading any but one who mentioned it at all, surprised me. If this was Columbine about ten years ago, I think many more people would be voicing pain and shock on their public spaces, hoping to connect for the pain of it. But now, ten years later, it's like we're not so surprised at this kind of thing anymore. That makes me sad.

Anyway, you don't know me -- I found your blog a couple weeks ago when someone I know nominated you for the Thinking Blogger award. (Can't remember which friend it was now, though!) I appreciate your gentle way of being and look forward to visiting back here often.

Again, I appreciated your personal touch on this post. Thank you for sharing it.

without TV i miss the news people thrashing about with stories like this, I feel the great loss, and pray for those families.
What in the world is going on??? I am at a loss.

Colleen...I was just coming over to leave a comment for you---wondering how close Floyd is to Blacksburg...Now I know. What a horrible horrid day yesterday was...an unimagineable tragedy....That you are so familiar with that town and the campus, too....this must be particularly painful to you. Your post is so poignant, my dear...And as always, so beautifully written, I feel like I can almost see all the places you mentioned.

So, so sad here. I wondered about how close you were to what happened. It makes it even more real when you have lived there, I suppose.

I knew the proximity of Floyd to Blacksburg, so I've been thinking of you. Sending my condolences to your community. The nation mourns with all of you over such a senseless act of violence.

When Bobby called me yesterday to turn on the news..I felt very similar to 9-11. I wanted to get my kids from school, bring them home and hug them. My heart deeply aches for all of the parents who lived through the nightmare of yesterday...and the one's who's nightmare is continuing today. Many candle-light vigils are being held in the area tonight. Very sad day here today.

I once went to a Sheryl Crow concert at Virginia Tech. My uncle is an alumn. I grew up 45 minutes from Blacksburg and often it was a weekend destination because it was so earthy and such a cool little town. I'm heartbroken for the families and victims of this senseless, violent act.

i have been "praying without ceasing" since i heard about this...what a horror! my husband had an offer for an interview at VT a couple of years ago, but had already accepted his current job. he called as soon as the news broke and said it might have been a good thing he didn't get that job. either way....we've been to that area several times and really love it, and mourn with the community. if you know of places to offer condolences or ways to help, please let us know. your sentiments here are moving and apt......

Thank you all for your caring comments. I literally feel stopped in my tracks. Everything feels changed. The wind is howling and people are crying. I watched so much TV news yesterday that I'm afraid to turn it on today, but I can't seem to move on and get on with the business of life either. How to go on and find normalcy when nothing feels normal? So many broken hearts. So much trust shattered.

colleen- it's funny how you mentioned the wind howling.... it was very dreary yesterday here, too, with howling winds....and sirens going off b/c of flooding and accidents. it just seemed even the sky and nature were in mourning.....it all came together for a very glum, eerie, and brokenhearted state....something i am continuing to feel deep inside.....

What makes someone do such a thing? Why? WHY!

Many around here lost power too. When I was in Roanoke visiting Dylan on Sunday, I brought up Blacksburg for some reason. We were reminiscing about when he was boy and came to work with me. I was describing it to his wife almost as if I knew and Blacksburg was already on my mind.

Because of a personal tragedy that occurred here yesterday, I couldn't bear to read anything but the headlines. I am glad I read your personal account of the community.
My love goes to all who grieve.
Susan

This was the first thing I heard, when I got in my car last night looking for news on the weather.

This is such a tradegy. {{{HUGS}}} Take care of yourself.

Colleen, when I got tagged with the Meme for the Thinking blog awards... which I think started at thethinkingblog.com I knew you were one of my top five. So I tagged you at my site.

Nice writing. I am glad you had the words; I could barely mention it on my blog. It just seems so senseless, useless, and unnecessary.

It's so important that you don't try to force going on to find the normalcy of life until it happens naturally and slowly, with the greatest of gentleness. This has done a violence to your soul and the souls of many others. If you feel paralyzed, it is because you need to be in honor and respect to the gravity of the situation.

I'm really glad to hear your words, actually, because I've been struck by the sterility of the news reporting (as my first comment indicated), and that has made it hard for me to feel what those in the community are feeling right now. So I'm glad I found a more true connection through you.

Thanks for visiting my site, by the way. I commented back to you, wondering how to learn more about your meditation group.

Blessings on you, new friend.

Yes they definately have our love. It amazes me the feeling of emotion involved with this. Va Tech is such a big, big deal here (VA and surrounding) and everyone is just devasted. The lady I worked with today her daughter graduated 3 years ago and she was in tears all day. Her husband went there...Delane and Amy love the place. I know kids going there. Heck I lived there a year and spent a lot of time there when I was living in Radford. I still can't believe anyone could be that insane. It is hard not to become pissed off at someone for feeling that he had the authority to take those people out. My heart is just broken for all the families of the victims and the students still there.

Thank you for your post. I consider Blacksburg my home and wish to remember what great times I have had there. So many good memories had and so many good to come.

yes, I was wondering how close you lived to this town...it will never again have quite the same feeling it once did....not by a long time to come anyway.