Shock. — I Cannot Believe It Has Happened. Again. Today.

Last night, as I laid down to end the day, I started to hear words. Words that I needed to write down. Words about gun violence in our society. I was tired, but I couldn’t stop them. I’ve learned not to fight this process anymore. So, I picked up my phone and typed up some notes. Then I could sleep.

When I woke up this morning, I finished writing and editing. It was a piece about gun violence. Gun violence at school. It was about Newtown. It was about Virginia Tech. It wasn’t about last night’s episode of GLEE, because I didn’t watch it. And at 6:45 a.m. I clicked “Publish”.

I went about my day, doing what I do. I sent my kiddos to school. I drove to a conference. Learned about assessments. Worked on some projects with some colleagues from across the state. I strolled through a history museum for a few minutes. I walked to lunch and enjoyed a salad with strawberries and feta cheese. I even managed to work in some health coach talk at lunch.

And then.

At 2:30 p.m. I received a message on my phone…Breaking News from the local channels.

There has been a shooting at our local shopping mall, at the satellite campus of a local community college. A place I pass most every day. Minutes from Virginia Tech. A few miles from my world. Ironically, after what I wrote just this morning, local law enforcement put my schools on lockdown for a little while, before changing to High Alert.

Random violence.  Shots fired. Two injured. Many terrified. Locked in. Traumatized. Lives changed forever.

I am in shock.

I have no more words.

Except these:

This. Has. To. Stop.

Praying Mightily for all involved today.

Then… Praying Mightily for Tomorrow.

---