I cry for the families of those who will never hug, kiss, scold, encourage their children. I cry for the children who survived, who have had their innocence stolen. I cry for the teachers and responders, for they have had to witness things no person should ever have to endure. I cry for that community, but more so, I cry for our country....for our world.
One of my best friends mentioned that she will continue to smile and that she will do her best to LIVE. Really and truly live. It is about all I can hold onto. Having been in two pretty horrific accidents, I thought I was aware of the whole "live like its your last day" thing. I tried to feel like I would never take things..life....for granted. But, sadly, I have. I do. I take for granted that I will always be here to tell my children that I love them, even though I know so much better. I take for granted that those who mean the most to me, my family and close friends, know how much they mean to me.
A while ago I became addicted to Pinterest. I started a board to Michael and Heather. I told them that if anything happens to me, that there are things on there for them. (Even if nothing happens to me, these are things I think they should be reminded of, or think about. They are teenagers and I think most of what I say goes right into some vortex with missing socks and lost homework.
I love you friends. Together we HAVE to fix this problem. It's no longer something we can talk about for a day, and then move past. We have to face hard facts. There are messed up people out there. People who are so hurt, or so sick, or so whatever that they end their lives, or worse, they end others lives. This MUST stop.
I've always told my kids that they should talk to someone if they worry about someone they know. No one wants to be wrong. No one wants to demand action. No one wants to be labeled a squealer or tattletale. No one wants to say that we demand our government to take action on this, and not back off until they have. No one wants to help pay for some sick individuals healthcare, so that maybe instead of hurting people, they get help.
I submit the lyrics of Hero by Superchick, because my eyes hurt from tears and my heart feels too much pain to think clearly. I hold the victims, their families, survivors, responders, and our country in my heart. I hold space for us. For us all.
Hero:
No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
Cause you want to belong, do you go along?
Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It's not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
And a kindness from you might have saved his life
[Tag:]
Heroes are made when you make a choice
[Chorus:]
You could be a hero - heroes do what's right
You could be a hero - you might save a life
You could be a hero- you could join the fight
For what's right, for what's right, for what's right
No one talks to her, she feels so alone
She's in too much pain to survive on her own
The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife
She writes on her arm and wants to give up her life
Each day she goes on is a day that she's brave
Fighting the lie that giving up is the way
Each moment of courage her on life she saves
When she throws the pills out a hero is made
Heroes are made when you make a choice
[Tag]
[Chorus]
No one talks to him about how he lives
He thinks that the choices he makes are just his
Doesn't know he's the leader with the way he behaves
And others will follow the choices he's made
He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide
His brother who wants to be him is just nine
He can do what he wants because it's his right
The choices he makes change a nine-year-old's life
[Tag]
[Chorus]
[Rap]
Little Mikey D. was the one in class who everyday got brutally harassed
This went on for years until he decided that never again would he shed another tear
So he walked through the door, grabbed a four-four out of his father's dresser drawer
And said I can't take life no more
And like that life can be lost
But this ain't even about that
All of us just sat back and watched it happen
Thinkin' it's not my responsibility to solve a problem that isn't even about me
This is our problem
This is just one of the daily scenarios which we choose to close our eyes
Instead of doing the right thing
If we make a choice and be the voice for those who won't speak up for themselves
How many lives would be saved, changed, and rearranged
Now it's our time to pick a side
So don't keep walkin' by
Not wantin' to intervene
'cause you wanna exist and never be seen
So let's wake up and change the world
Our time is now
[Chorus:]
You could be a hero (Our time is now)
Heroes do what's right
You could be a hero (Our time is now)
You might save a life
You could be a hero, you could join the fight (Our time is now)
For what's right, for what's right
