Yesterday was beyond awful. One of my oldest friends, Amy, and her family (including her elementary school aged children) live in Newtown, and she is a teacher ( I didn't know at which school). I didn't know for hours if they were all right. Thankfully they were --different school in the district--but one of her friends lost her daughter, and Amy lost several colleagues. I just...it's so awful. And then ND's niece said something about how teachers should be armed, and I completely lost my shit and I'm really struggling with seeing her on Christmas next week. So yeah.

I'm at the office to do some work. But I did bike here! Read some of a new book this morning. (result of stopping by library to get an application for volunteering with my son, yikes have to finish by Jan 2) I am striving for a better balance of working, working out, and relaxing.

{{{Pix}}} I had you on my mind yesterday, among others, knowing that you were from the area and might know those more immediately devastated.

(((Pix))))

Pix, I was thinking of you yesterday, too. I'm so sorry.

Pix, I'm glad your friend and her family are okay, but it's such a horrible situation all the way around.

Thank you, but please no brackets for me. It feels disingenuous given what others lost.

Oh, god, Pix, I'm so sorry. It's all so awful.

I went climbing last night, then watched a couple of episodes of Fringe (am I supposed to care about Peter? I really don't). Now I'm going to walk the dog and do some cleaning, and then take my mother out for some Christmas shopping. And then maybe take her & my dad to lunch at Trader Vic's.

I had the jeweler fix up one of her old rings: it was missing an amethyst and a bunch of seed pearls. Turns out it was her grandmother's, a woman who all we know about her is her married name. And that she and her husband died young, leaving her daughter to be raised by her sister. It's cool to have a physical connection going that far back.

{{{{{Pix}}}}} You were one of the first people I thought about when I heard the news. Love and thoughts headed to your friend's friend. I'm so sorry. I am also disgusted by many of the reactions I saw on my FB list yesterday.

ETA: I posted before I saw you say no hugs, but I honestly want to hug all the teachers, parents, and kids I know right now.

Oh, Pix, I'm so sorry. My heart goes out to your friend and her colleagues. I can't even imagine the terrible impact of this on such a small, close-knit community. And, ugh, ND's niece and possibly the most ill-timed and ill-directed comment ever.