December 26, 2012

It took a few weeks...

But I think the tragedy of what happened in Newtown, CT has sunk in for me.

When I heard about it, it was Scott, pointing to a CNN-tuned t.v. in a Burger King in Grand Cayman, saying, "Look, a school shooting."

I learned the basics through the news they broadcasted on the cruise ship that day and the next.  I saw facts and details on blogs, Twitter, etc.  I saw the safety letter my school district sent out to our faculty, staff, and parents.  But I didn't read too far into my school emails because I was just so thrilled to be in Pennsylvania (flu or not!) and wanted nothing to do with that state of Alaska.


But then, I spent some time with our niece last week.  She's 7.  First grade.  She lives in Pennsylvania.
And she's so smart!  Like, really smart!  (Like, smarter-than-some-of-my-4th-graders-smart...)
And she believes in Santa.  And she adores her Uncle Scott. And we opened presents early for Christmas. And she lets me fix her hair.  And she reads to me.

She glazed us a clay ornament.  The kid is 7, sees me twice a year, and she spells my name right.
And I started thinking...
"This is what those 20 kids were before Dec. 14: they were just like her."

I went shopping for an outfit for her.
Now I think, "Those kids won't get to wear their new Christmas clothes."

I watched her open gifts that had been purchased and wrapped weeks ago*. 
Now I think, "Those kids won't get to open their gifts."

Then I started reading about the kids.  And looking at their pictures.  It's something I advise you TO do and NOT TO do at the same time.  It's a sad process, but I couldn't stop.
I read every article I could find the other night.  
I thought about the teachers.  Would I jump on top of my students like this teacher did?  I don't know. How many of you could say you'd really do that?

Anyway, as I hugged Jordynn good-bye the other night, I thought about all those poor families.  I'm glad, really glad, that I was able to gain some perspective on this situation.

Some bloggers dedicated cookies and crafts to the victims at Sandy Hook last week.  I was out of town then, but I want to repost my favorite cookie from when I was 7 years old.  You should go make them with a kiddo today.



Chocolate and Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies.

*Would you believe that we forgot her gifts? We had to buy her new ones (books, of course). Aunt-and-uncle-of-the-year, right?

Sharing at Walkabout Wednesday and Random Wednesday