shocking and unbelievable

The shootings at Virginia Tech. It was horrifying enough earlier this morning to read that one person had been killed, but now it’s up to twenty two. It’s just unbelievable. And hits home on several levels. First, three of my cousins went to Tech, so I have fond memories myself of the campus. More upsetting, one’s son is a freshman there now. He’s fine – but how terrifying. And secondly, Virginia Tech is like us. Blacksburg is only three or four hours from here, it’s out in the boonies, it’s a bigger school but still it’s not the kind of place that has shootings. People don’t get killed at Tech. It would be like people getting shot here. Which of course could happen. I guess it really makes you see how fragile the world really is. Especially when it’s populated by insane people with guns.

Now Reuters is saying 32 people are dead.

I’m having a little trouble concentrating on my stacks of papers today. It’s my first day back after many many days off, so my inbox is overflowing and I’ve got a zillion messages to answer and two zillion emails. And despite it being mid April, we had what amounted to a blizzard last night. Howling winds that reportedly were up to 60 mph (and I believe it, having sat on the couch watching the trees flopping back and forth like they were made of rubber and listening to what sounded like freight trains coming through all night long). And snow, and ice. And the power went out at 10 last night, and judging by how my machine isn’t picking up, it’s STILL out. No power means no water and no heat. If it’s still off when we get home, I’m checking into the Super 8. We’ve lived here ten years and have never lost power for more than a couple of hours. It’s supposed to be as windy tonight too.

But, at least nobody’s shooting at us. And I don’t have the heart to indulge in my planned weather/work/etc whine.