Saturday, December 15, 2012

Survival

MY TWO KITTENS woke me up early this Saturday morning. Yes, Saturday morning--a time typically reserved for relaxation and indulgence. But NO, not when you have manic kitty antics going on around the room. I figured if I got up and fed them like I do during the week, they'd settle back down. Nope. Instead Taz, our little boy kitten found his favorite fluff ball and is growling, "This is mine. Get your own toy!" at his poor sister who is guilty only of looking on while perched on a freshly dried stack of towels. Sheesh! Whatever happened to sharing? And sleeping in? 

I'm a mix of emotions this AM. I'm giggling at my kitties and looking forward to my day, Christmas shopping with my daughters. But I can't help sense the dark cloud of sadness over the loss of life in Newtown, Connecticut. I can't even begin to imagine the anguish those parents must be feeling. They were unjustly robbed and violated. It's the worst kind of tragedy imaginable and it makes my heart hurt. 

And what about the parents whose children survived? I remember months ago when I read The Woman Who Wasn't There, a book focused on the survivors of 9/11. The book illustrated that while we put copious effort into helping the people who lost loved ones, and rightly so, the people who got out of those buildings alive were forgotten but went through tremendous survivor's guilt. They didn't really understand it until they all came together and realized they were feeling the same series of emotions. 

In Newtown as well as in Portland in the aftermath of that shooting, those close to the situation will comfort the families of those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. I hope there will also be support for those whose children and loved ones survived. These people might be going through something--psychologically speaking--even more difficult--survivor's guilt. 

Trying to make sense of a tragedy like this is pretty much a lesson in futility. I believe there is a mental health crisis going on across this country. While lawmakers push gun control to the front of their agendas, I hope they will take an equally sobering look at how to help those who are struggling psychologically. 

Thanks for reading. What are your thoughts? 


8 comments:

  1. Hi, Grace, Jen at Rainy Day Gardener has an interesting post on both gun control and mental health issues.

    I think I can safely say that Canadians are deeply moved and saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts are with you.

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  2. I fell asleep last night and woke up this morning wondering how those poor people can go on. The woman killed in the mall was our neighbor. Her son goes to our son's school. I was/am heartbroken for him and his family. Then yesterday's shooting happened and I want to curl up in a ball for those people. Those parents. Those families. Those kids and staff who survived and have to go back there. Those men and woman who had to go into the school first. They can never unsee that scene. It's so devastatingly sad. My stomach and heart is in knots even attempting to imagine their pain. I just don't think I could go on. I prayed last night that they can find strength in God - and told Him that I don't think that I could. Horrific.

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  3. I can't imagine what the families of those lost and the survivors are going through. I, too, hope support is given to all, and my prayers are with them all.

    I agree that there's a mental health crisis and we need to look at whether or not people who need help are able to get the help they need.

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  4. My heart, love and prayers go out to all those affected by this horrible, senseless tragedy.

    Have a lovely time shopping with your daughters. You all need this time together.

    FlowerLady Lorraine

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  5. Grace as an educator I am sickened and heart broken...it is our worst fear knowing we can only do what we can do but we cannot stop these people from coming in to a school if they are determined. We can only try and save as many lives as we can...we are helpless.

    These teachers are amazing and will need a great amount of help to cope. They will not want the limelight but instead will turn within not as heroes but as teachers. They are who I am very concerned about. Children who survived will need help but are more resilient many times. There will be many teachers who will never enter a classroom again let alone that school and the same for the children.

    WE need to stop glossing over the issues and put into place what we know is needed...yes gun control is a must but mental health is necessary too...it has systematically been dismantled over the last 30 years and look at what we have...poor helpless homeless people on the street with no help, families in pain trying to get help for loved ones and finding it impossible and now again we have someone who in all likelihood needed help but did not get it and has murdered poor innocents....the mall shooting, Aurora CO it just keeps going on and on....

    For me this is the last straw...the unthinkable that was always hands off...never kill an innocent 6 yr old...but now there is nothing sacred...I just don't know anymore...my heart is breaking and I cannot stop crying...maybe it is because first and foremost I am a teacher...maybe that is why this has cut me to my very core...I just don't know...but we cannot just keep talking anymore..the outrage must finally lead to steps taken...I must have that hope.

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  6. My heart goes out to all the families that have suffered a horrific loss. I also agree with you Grace that this is more than just a gun control problem. I can only hope that a a nation and part of the world we can all come together and find a solution to stop the carnage. Now they are killing babies. My tears are flowing and my heart is breaking.

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  7. We have been speechless...Each time I smiles at something instantly inside I think of those parents...thank you for remembering them...two naughty kittens sound very healing to me xx

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  8. My thoughts are all over the place. I'm sick of schools being targets. But I'm also tired of how easy it is to buy a gun. But I also wonder what kind of God lets this happen.

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