Four years ago, mid-morning on January 8th, life in Tucson changed. We had actually been one of those towns before, but for whatever reasons, the label did not stick. October 29, 2002 was when a mass shooting, and mass murder, took place at the University of Arizona. But the attempted assassination of a Congressman and a death of little girl born on 9/11/2001 in the the mass shooting of 18 and death of six captured the nation’s attention, like so many other mass shootings.
My post on the day of the shooting is here,
My first post about survivor and blogger Suzi Hileman is here,
And from posts from:
January 8 2012: I did not write on the first anniversary. In that year I had started becoming acquainted with Ashleigh Burroughs who writes the blog, The Burrow, and felt that I just could not and should not write from Tucson about this event. This was a time for survivors to speak out if they so chose and that I had no right to write and be some sort of a vulture on the subject.
January 8, 2013
January 8, 2014
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Excerpt:from my blog: January 8, 2014 – Tucson
Today I cannot help but to remember how the Old Pueblo came together to support the families of six individuals who lost their lives, and the 12 who lived, but were injured. I remember standing vigil outside University Med Center down the street from my house at twilight and into the evening that day. A friend who is a minister led us in prayer. And I actually prayed and attempted to wrap the survivors in focused loving thoughts and life energy. I rarely ask God, the Goddess, the Universe for anything. The only prayer that means anything to me is a prayer to be vessel of good, of light and love.
Good comes from evil if enough of us choose to build it.
I now know a wonderful writer, another Tucson-based blogger, who was critically injured that day in Tucson. She almost died from her wounds. She just wanted to bring her little friend, a neighbor girl, to meet Gabby. If you want a real story of lives impacted by extended clips and semi-automatic weaponry, read her blog post today that is a letter to Christina-Taylor Green.
End of excerpt.
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The post that says it all:
went up yesterday on my friend’s site. My heart hurts for her, for so many.
Such a horrible day. I remember we were in Florida and lying out by pool just having finished the Disney half marathon. I read about the shootings and told my husband. Seemed surreal that we were having this great moment and across the country was such terror and sadness. You and your friend are in my thoughts today.
Thank you Jamie.
So much heartache. And the media is very focus on the Paris shooting this week, so memorializing those lost in Tuscon is related but probably a bit muted. May we do more to promote peace and to use our words (and not violence) when we disagree with others. Hugs to all survivors and to family members of those lost that day.
Words. We need to use words. But Paris. So much death for a drawing. It makes no sense.
Sometimes those quiet moments of our own–and sharing with our friends and followers– are a better memorial than anything public. I am sorry for all the loss–the loss in AZ, the loss in Paris, the loss everywhere. It is a tough world for us humans to be in. I search and search for the meaning I know Father/Mother God intends us to get from these things and it’s elusive. Blessings to your friend, may she find more strength and peace as she walks her soul’s journey and blessings to you on yours.
I think the personal stories of how this hurts so many beyond those directly involved, and how we still mourn, and what is being done to try to stop the cycles of physical and psychical violence are the most important remembrances too.
Thank you for this post, Nancy. It’s a day I shall never forget. I don’t usually have the TV on in the morning, but that day I had on CNN. I could NOT believe my ears. That’s the Safeway we shop at! I came in the middle of the newscast, so at first I didn’t get the whole story and then I heard it – That’s whooo? GABBY? It cannot be. And then they announced that she had DIED. Darwin and I were in tears for hours before we learned that she had not died but was in critical condition but that 6 other people had indeed died.
But my heart also went out to the parents of Jared Loughner, whom I do not know. I do know what it is to live with a teen who was mentally ill and I heard how the father had known something was wrong – but not what – and tried to stop him, never imagining it could be something as awful as this. They had lost a child forever too, and although they must have tremendous grief and shame – and fear – there must as well have been some relief at finally having someone else to be responsible for him. Living with his illness must have been so very difficult and scary. What were they to do? They couldn’t very well lock him in his room and there is no real help for families in this situation – nor for the young person. And no one was gathering to support in their darkest moments. I prayed for them then and I pray for them again today, hoping that they have been able to move forward with their lives.
Over the years since that time there have been so many tragedies, so many communities in grief as we were that day, and each time there is the outpouring on support – of vigils and grief and memorials- the human heart is very big. And each time there is a tragedy, after the horror of the acts of the few who are murderous, I see the outpouring of community love that follows.
So too in Paris today. #all lives matter.
Yes Gerry, #alllivesmatter The mentally ill are so fragile and our treatment of them break them. Guns. Guns. Guns. Healthcare and regulation of weaponry… seems so simple. I am so happy you were not there at your store. I will never forget. Tucson will never forget. But we will heal and thrive.
I will be so happy when there comes a day when these tragedies no longer happen. I remember this so well. I was getting to go on a trip for my birthday when I heard the news. It was so heart breaking. I shared it and I also pinned it so I can go back later when I have more time and read some of these other posts. Thank you for sharing them. Prayers for your whole city.
I hate to say it, but I most often cannot see that day in my lifetime.
Such a horrific day.Another ordinary day that turned bad. I will never, ever forget it and I will keep those people you showed above in my heart. My Utopia would have no evil, but alas, where is that? Thanks for writing this heart-wrenching post. We all need to remember…
We have to remember, and act, for healthcare and reasonable gun laws.
Such a horrible day filled with sadness. And it’s so very sad that our national calendar is becoming jam-packed with worthy anniversaries such as this. I wish we didn’t HAVE such horrible things to remember, such heartache that doesn’t ease. We will continue to remember, though, and to mourn. Thank you for sharing and reminding us all to never forget.
I know Lisa! This is not even close to the world I want.
This is so sad. I can’t stand it. As the mom of a little girl I just wan to stick my head in the ground like an ostrich every time I hear of another “incident.” And it’s always the men perpetrating these vicious acts.
And mentally ill men. Men with guns.
Thank you for this memorial. You’re right that we should never forge or let these deaths be in vain. What’s amazing and devastating is that we don’t seem to have learned anything, and that guns seem to have become more prevalent. When are we going to stop the violence?
We have to keep trying to convince those in power, or change those in power, so that THE PEOPLE come before Manufacturing Association Lobbying group. Comprehensive mental health care for one can save trauma to entire towns.
That was a sad and tragic day for sure…I still feel the pain from the sadness. Nothing has changed. Now Paris…it’s a scary world we live in. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims of such violence.
And now Paris… yes. We must figure out how to stop the cycle of violence.