Watching from a Distance

Yesterday, as soon as I saw a news site on the web reporting a shooting spree at Virginia Tech, I called my brother, David’s cell phone.  One of his paycheck jobs is in the Foodservice Dept. of Virginia Tech.  He is fine, but his building was on lockdown for hours.  He definitely realizes the reason for having a campus ID card.  He and three others were escorted out to their cars by officers.  He went to his other job last evening, where all the talk was about the event—speculation and timing, etc.

I called my youngest sister last evening.  She’s and her hubs are feeling a bit under the weather, but we talked awhile about how we are so glad our own brother is okay, and how we don’t know anyone else directly.  And I’m feeling a wee bit guilty with my sense of relief, of knowing my bro is good, but the families—all those other grieving people.

I’m just glad today is not my turn, because everybody loses Loved Ones, one way or another. 

Today, I went out doing errands, and this is the phone machine message waiting from my brother when I got home from the grocery store. 

‘Haven’t found out anything about my friend yet, although his job is in the building where the shooting took place.  We’re getting ready for the President’s visit, which begins in a few minutes our time.’

He did have to work today, since all those dorm residents still need a place to eat, even if classes are cancelled.

My MisterDOF wrote a fine post with the closing comment

Kindness is our most powerful rebellion against tragedy.

I already blatantly copied his whole essay and sent it along to my Dear Ones mailing list because I wanted to get the word out.

And my brother says the folks on the VT campus are trying, even now to put the pieces together and make it to the end of the semester.

Update: Sunday 22 April

Someone asked about my bro who works at V Tech in Foodservice.
He’s doing alright, in mourning like the rest of us.  Trying to carry on with all the news crews everywhere.

His friend who had worked with him before, then transferred to the Norris Building is fine.
He got ahold of him Thursday.

However, two of the student victims were part-time dishwasher girls in his department.
Their timecards had to be taken out of the slots to figure up the earnings and pay their estates.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Also something pertinent at Notes from the Terminal Ward