The Virginia Tech Murders

Someone (and who are you?) was eagerly awaiting my "VT blog." So here I am, but I really don't feel that possessed to write something about it. I mean, what can I say that isn't trite? Well, actually, maybe that I feel like i'd be more FLOORED with horror if this happened a decade ago. This week, though, I was almost numb to the carnage. Post-September 11 and all. Not to mention post-Columbine. I hope I don't sound glib, but I was reminded of THE SIMPSONS episode where Bart and Lisa are at Itchy and Scratchy Land wondering if they're desensitized to violence as fake blood from a ride spurts unnoticed onto their faces.

I'm at once more sickened than ever, yet resigned to the horrors of this earth. If I dwell on it too long, it's just overwhelming in its brutality and sadness. Thirty-two people, most of them college-age with their lives ahead of them, didn't know that last Friday night would be their last on this earth. That last weekend would be their last to drink and hit the bars. To hang out, to hook up, to do what young people do.

These were beautiful people, inside and out. And now they're dead. For no reason. So I really don't KNOW what to say or think about that. OTHER THAN to add it to my mountainous pile of reasons to thank God for every moment I'M here. I can relish the frivolous minutae of a 2am trip to ShopRite, laugh my ass off at profane emails from friends, giddily anticipate the first warm weekend of Spring 2007. I'm very lucky. And if you're reading this, so are you.

I'd recommend seeking out pictures and stories of all those killed. You'd be honoring them, which is all anyone can really do. But you'd also be getting a swift, ugly reminder of how easily life can be snuffed out...and, knowing this, hopefully live YOUR life better.