Glued To the Horror

I wasn't planning on writing a post about the tragedy in Newtown, CT, but I think it's best to get it off of my chest. I feel SO TERRIBLE for the families and even for the entire town. All I have done since I got home from work last night is watch the news (which I normally don't do at all) and keep a computer tab up on CNN.com. I don't completely understand why I am so glued to this horror. As the story unfolds more and more, all I can do is watch and cry.

Probably some of my sadness comes from having a child who is elementary school aged. Then, the empathy. Trying to imagine sending your child to school only to find out that someone has gone in with a gun and killed so many innocent lives. To know that the parents of 20 children will never see their children alive again. To think that those parents had to sit at that fire station and watch every other child be reunited with their families and then realize that they would not have that relief. These people will have to plan funerals for their loved ones when they should be finishing up their Christmas shopping or wrapping up their Hanukkah festivities. It seems like too much for anyone to have to endure. I don't know if I could.

Then, there are all of the people, police and paramedic or firefighters, who have had to walk into that school and see the horror of all of those little bodies, covered in blood. To know that the teachers, principal and school psychologist all died trying to protect those little lives. Something like that is going to stay with them for the rest of their lives. I feel horrible for them, as well.

Last, I am going to go a step further and say that I feel bad for the family of the gunman. His father and brother have lost a mother and ex-wife. They have to endure all of the hatred directed at them because people need someone to blame.

As the days pass, I know I will remain glued to this story. I know I will be watching to see what the investigators uncover. Those families will remain in my prayers for a long time to come.