Like every American within hearing distance of the news media, I too have mourned the loss of life in Newtown, CT. At the time, I chose not to post about it. Instead, I left a message on my Facebook page that I would be silent for a day or two. I unplugged, stayed home and tried to keep busy. I watched the news last night for any updates. I cried through the entire 30 minute CBS evening news.
As a former employee of a school about the size of Sandy Hook, my first thought upon hearing the news was for the fallen students and staff.
Then my school secretary instincts kicked in and all I could think about were the teachers and staff left behind. The ones who have to somehow pick up the pieces of their shattered school…without their principal.
There is much work to do at that school. Work that cannot be accomplished by the faint of heart. That staff has to join together, find some leadership and start over. Even though it might be in a different building, it’s a new start all the same. They need our prayers. They need our encouragement. The town of Newtown is counting on them to bring some normalcy back into the lives of the students.
Normalcy is sort of relative. What is normal to one person is not necessarily normal to another. My normal right now is blogging, sewing, and preparing for Christmas with my family. That’s what I’m going to do this week. I’ll be back Monday with a regular, normal post. Stop by if you need a break.
I came back to the blog late last night, but didn’t post anything until this afternoon. I posted Thursday afternoon…left a note at FB, Friday.
Our family gathering was yesterday. Especially meaningful gathering.
You’ve written a beautiful post, Ann. Thank you so much! We continue to keep the families, teachers and all people of Newtown in our thoughts and prayers.
A beautiful post that also expresses how I feel, especially since I work in a school too. Thanks for saying what I have had a hard time putting into words.
Such a tragedy:( There seems to be so much madness in the world, you certainly should be afraid to send your children to school. Prayers going up for all involved.
It is an awful, awful tragedy. It sounds like they are not going to reopen the school. That is probably a blessing. I can’t imagine the kids walking those haunted halls. xo Diana
Such a beautiful post, Ann. As a retired teacher, I know how hard its going to be to for the staff and the students to pick up the pieces after this horrific event. They do need our encouragement and our continued prayers. I think contributions towards some sort of memorial to be placed at the school would be appropriate and appreciated.
You are so right about how difficult it will be for that town and school to get back to normal. I’m all too aware of the closeness you have with your fellow teachers and childrens classmates since I have a child in elementary school right now. I just went to a conference at the school last week. It is like one big family there. Everyone knows everyone. I’m sure it will never be the same for those people again. I am trying to do the same thing and continue on with what I have been because it still must get done. Christmas will be here in about a week and I am hosting a dinner too. I think Christmas morning will make us cherish what we have a little more this year though.
Oh Ann, my heart is still aching, I saw my 7 year old granddaughter this evening (Samantha) at her sister’s basketball game for the first time since Friday. She was sitting two rows down from me with her mother(my daughter) I looked at her and said “Come see Grammy” so she came up to me and I held and kissed and hugged her and told her “Grammy loves you”. She is so skinny Ann, only takes a size 7 but while I held her with tears in my eyes, I imagined it riddled with bullets…how could someone do that to a baby because that is what she is…a baby. My heart goes out to the mothers of those babies, the sorrow has to be horrific!
I too am worried about those that are still living–lived through that tragedy –it is something that will always haunt them I believe–and the bus drivers even–they drove some of those tiny souls to that school!!
My sister was a County worker when a man came in and killed 4 of her co-workers–in probably one of the first so called ‘mass murders’ and again it was in a small town–the police force thought when the 911 calls came it it was just a joke-so did not respond quickly–or they might have saved one or two of the women–they also had a real hard time dealing with it! My sister is still bad even after all these years–so this is something that effected everyone that day–so allllll need our prayers–thank you.
Hugs,Di and her kitty Miss Gracie
Yes, Ann, our hearts are all breaking for the families who have lost children, mothers, friends, sisters, a principal. My prayers are constantly with those picking up the pieces that the God of Hope will help them all.
Big hugs, Cindy
As Di wrote about her sister, we never go back to normal, not even a new normal. When the unthinkable tragedy comes to our lives we live with a new reality. The years have really helped after September 11, but there are always moments of sadness. I wish it was other, but it it is easier in some ways not to think that we can be the way we were before those tragic moments. Newtown will always be in my prayers.
I taught first grade … so just the ages of the children that were killed. It is so difficult. Thanks for sharing your words that help us understand more of what the needs will be for that school.
Getting ready to go to school myself this morning.
Whenever this happens, I’m always sick. My husband and I work in the same school. Most of the time it’s great, but then you have to wonder of the chance of your kids being left total orphans over something like this.
It’s not what we went into education for, that’s for sure.
I work at a school and I all I couldn’t stop thinking about all of them. Horrible. Thanks Ann. My prayers are certainly with them.
Tragic and senseless
my heart is aching
That was beautiful!!! I , like you, watched the news and cried till I thought I couldnt cry any longer. I step back and realize in this sad time, I will play Christmas music as I bake, and thank everyone that waits on me wherever I go, whether a store or restaurant, even more than I usually do. We are all human and need comfort , especially at this time of the year. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Lovely post, Ann. I’m a former HS English teacher, and I can remember how I felt like those students belonged to me, and I can only imagine what the faculty and staff must be experiencing right now. I so badly want to help this hurting community, but I suppose the most important thing I can do is pray.