I haven’t
written in about a week, except for a couple of notes here and they’re on my Armageddon
story—which with December 21 looming is quite fitting.
It’s part
Christmas, part exhaustion—because its the holiday season and work is
stressful, partly because I’m behind in my shopping.
All life.
And yesterday,
we had a Northwest tragedy. I cried when I heard. And just for the record, I’m
not a crier. I didn’t sob
or wail, tears of silence and shock simply slid down my cheeks.
If you don’t
know, I’ll share. Yesterday (or eighteen hours ago when you’re reading this) a
gunman went into Clackamas Town Center in Oregon and opened fire. Two shoppers
were killed and one seriously injured before the gunman took his own life.
Clackamas
Town Center is my favorite place to shop and it has been since they opened back
in the early eighties. My sister and I used to go over just for Square Pan
Pizza. Just for lunch. We’d hit hwy 205
and sail on over—cruising like 75 because 205 was so new and nobody took
advantage of it back then—and get there within 15-18 minutes.
Now, because
of traffic, it takes between 20-30 minutes depending on the time of day. But it’s
still worth it—even if Square Pan Pizza is long gone. They have a two-story Barnes and Noble, a
Disney store and just a festive atmosphere. They have big koi fish in a
fountain/pond in the center of the mall. They also have one of Jordan’s
favorite restaurants, Noodle and Co. So, every few weeks, on my day off, Jordan
and I head over. Just for lunch. Thankfully, yesterday—while my day off—was not
one of those days.
You know,
living in the Portland metro area most of my life, I’ve come to accept the
everyday crime. Shoplifters, check. Gang members, don’t meet their gaze. Check.
Tonya Harding, check. Possible grow
house just down the block. Check.
But then
there comes along something so heinous that it affects an entire community—tens of housands
and thousands of people—and you can’t fall asleep that night. You think of the victims,
the people fleeing the gunshots, and what could have been if your day had gone
another way.
We lost our
innocence twenty-three years ago when a serial killer stalked our streets and
took our children. Last night we lost
our innocence again. Unfortunately, it probably won’t be the last time.
And that’s
the saddest fact of all.
It's so very sad, and even though we all say "something should be done," I don't think any of us knows for sure what the "something" is. I'm so glad you and Jordan are safe.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz. I agree, if we could figure out the solution we could win the White House :) Now, just to find out what that "something" is...
DeleteI saw this on the news last night, Margie, and I cried a little too. I'm not from the PNW, have never visited, but senseless crimes like that get to me. I feel for the families affected...and I'm so glad you and Jordan are safe.
ReplyDeleteWe're glad, too :) I think the senselessness of the crimes and the fact that they rob of us of our security are the sad consequences of these public events. I have to admit after the Aurora shootings, we had couple of qualms going to see The Dark Knight a few days later at our own local theater.
DeleteI'm so sorry. Fortunately, I've never lived in a place where something like this has happened. I can't imagine how you feel.
ReplyDeleteElla--that's how I always felt until it happened to us. Like I said, we deal with the usual big town crimes and barely blink. But something like this, without warning, without explanation or reason--it just shows how vulnerable you can be at any given time.
DeleteAs I write this, the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut is just breaking. I think we're in for a hellish week until the 21st passes and the crazies realize it's not the end of the world as we know it.
I hope I'm wrong...
I just got over here, Margie. I am so very thankful you and yours are safe. I live in the tiniest town in the universe, and I still wonder...is there a lunatic out there?
ReplyDelete