Much healing~ma for your community, beth and massive brackets to Matt. He is one heck of a mensch.

What erika said about Matt, and echoing everyone else's thoughts for ~ma. Did I understand right that y'all knew the attacker? If so, that's some added awful. But what a testament to your awesome community, that everyone reacted instantly and supportively.

Much healing~ma to Matt (and words cannot express how un-surprised I am at both his heroism and his disregard of his heroism), M and K, A, and all your community.

There we go, now I can just say, "What JZ said."

Oddly, this is one of the few times things aren't spreading instanly through the community - because i would have to go around telling people to stop using the word hero- it isn't helpful for him. I did tell him that if attacker had been been larger - he wouldn't have done what he did - his instincts aren t as off as he thinks. but if you aren't violent - doing something violent will have a profound effect on your brain.

We just found out that D 's court apearance is today at 2. That is all we know now.

I'm finding I'm looking at everyone with a lot more suspicion than usual

Much healing~ma to Matt (and words cannot express how un-surprised I am at both his heroism and his disregard of his heroism), M and K, A, and all your community.

There we go, now I can just say, "What JZ said."

Exactly, because JZ said it perfectly.

No, I think that's really true. Violence is not a normal part of matt's nature, and the fact that he felt it was necessary is a difficult thing.

I really encourage both of you to get some post traumatic event counseling, even if that's also not a normal thing for you. This was a significant event, and I really think it would be helpful to you both. I suspect matt would be resistant to this, but I think it would really help you process and move through this.

Also, how is matt doing physically?

Liese is wise.

First, beth, lots of ~ma to all of you there. I understand completely all of the emotions coming out of it. Confusion, stress and all of the rest. When facing violence, we don't know how we're going to react. Never. I have a lot of respect for Matt, first for stepping in, then for not wanting to be called a hero. My ~mas to you, your family and your community.

Into other things I randomly picked up from the conversation...

Happy holidays, all! I had a great time. Most importantly, I built up some confidence I needed during that vacation, and refocused on other things. Possibly grew thicker skin. Definitely feel better (confidence is great, man), but now, kind of wonder how the hell I got myself into all of these responsibilities I have. Also, I can haz new awesome bra and a swapped holy-something-it's-so-stunning skirt.

Cash, your roller derby photos were a hell lot more exciting to look at than I thought they'll be. Looking at them, I wanted to be a part of it! I'm glad you're still high of it; looks worth it. And y'all so damn pretty. I'm a sucker for pretty.

I think that's even worse than the guy who answered that question with "Twilight."

Ooh. Now I want to sign into a dating site just to mention that the last book I read and lurved was The Problems of the Philosophy of History. Which is a lie, for I read others I loved since, but it's still a good test, I think, to my One True Date's character (if I only believed in dating...).

Also, I like to breathe and blink. I'm weird like that.

And get your stuff sooner~ma to askye.

because i would have to go around telling people to stop using the word hero- it isn't helpful for him.

I hope as he progresses through dealing with the experience, he can sort of look at the act of people calling him hero, acknowledge that it's their shorthand for being nice and of thanking him, and then take their words and set them aside. *He* doesn't have to accept or apply that label to himself, and maybe as he starts to heal, he can just let their words exist but not attach to him. If that makes sense.

I don't mean right this moment, just in case it wasn't clear. Right now, he -- and you -- just needs to process it all and start to heal.