Contemplations.

Much going through my head lately. Yesterday, naturally, which cannot be adequately expressed in words, and cannot be rationalized. And yet it cannot be overlooked, and so I will mention it briefly, and mention how shaken I am, and saddened I am, and how shocking it is that these things seem to happen so often in institutions of knowledge, sanctuaries of learning and growth. How terrible to be shot down just as one is beginning to learn who one is. How terrible to be shot down, as the professor, the Holocaust survivor was, in cold blood after having survived such horrors. So senseless. I'm not one for public exhibitions of mourning; I will not change my facebook profile picture to a juxtaposition of the Florida/VaTech logos with a black ribbon, as many of my friends have, nor will I alter my status, or join any of the numerous groups. Mourning, for me, is intensely private, contemplative, melancholic. Tragedies of humanity are particularly quieting, for me. Tragedies involving the death of youths--of students, people my age, people I easily could have known--even more so, as one of my greatest fears is dying before I have accomplished, well, anything, an achievement, a goal. I grieve, for the lost opportunities, and dreams, and hopes, for the families and students and faculty of Virginia Tech, and for the ever-dwindling innocence of this nation and the world.

Other things going through my head. But they do not bear saying right now. Tomorrow, back to business as usual. Yesterday, and today, and yes, for the next few weeks...Virginia Tech. But not here.