Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
It can, and it did... less than half a mile from my house, involving people with whom I'm familiar, on both ends of the rifle.
Though you may have heard about this in the national media, I felt I needed to tell you that it has struck so close to home, particularly for Stretch:
Swimmers assaulted by gunman
The murdered girl was the daughter of Stretch's close friend and co-worker. She was not only physically beautiful, but a beautiful soul as well. Though I didn't know her well, I'd met her a few times and can honestly say she positively affected anyone she met. Her parents had instilled both virtue and humor in her that's rare these days (she was a really funny person). In an era where you'd just as soon kick most teenagers in the butt as talk to them, Tiffany was a joy to know--a truly good girl, in every sense of the word. She told Mom and Dad she was going to the bridge, which a lot of parents would have disallowed since it's an old rusty wreck from which high-school kids have been pulling crazy stunts for generations. Not so her Mike and Karen; her honesty and straighforwardness with them was all they needed.
The senselessness of the loss of such a wonderful young person in an incident such as this is leaves me at a complete loss for words and confused in a way which I've never felt. I have no idea what I'm going to do or say when I see her parents, whom I also consider friends. I doubt I'll be able to do much more than cry. I really want to call but don't know if I should, or what the hell I could possibly say.
Though I didn't know him personally, one of the boys killed had turned his life around for the better after having had problems with drugs several years ago, I'm told. Now that his life finally had a positive outlook, something like this happens.
Who knows what positive effects these youngsters might have had on the world in which we live. Sadly, their potential contributions were taken away from us before they could ever really develop.
I shudder to think that it could have easily been my daughter. I know that sounds selfish but it's the first thing of which you think when it hits this close to home. Lots of kids hang out at the train bridge; it's been going on since long before I spent time there myself in high school. Elaine's already past the age I was when I first started cooling (and goofing) off at that particular site. My brother jumped off it, my sisters swam beneath it. Inspired by an old Letterman gag, my friends and I once stole a "lawn jockey" and dropped it off that bridge.
A site that has brought so much joy to so many generations of kids has been transformed to a dark and ugly place, suitable only for the morbidly curious. It can never return to its former glory.
I remember Scott Johnson from high school, though I was never friends with the guy. He graduated a year behind me. I just remember him as being sort of quiet; I don't ever remember him being picked on or bullied... he just kind of kept to himself. Heck, he might have hung out there too at some point. He never really made much of an impression, I guess. He has now; may he rot in hell after an agonizing death at the hands of his fellow prisoners after he's convicted (MI has no death penalty).
My heart goes out to the families; my thoughts and prayers are with all of them. I am not equipped to grasp what they must be going through; I pray none of us ever has to be in their position.
Pray for them, and pray for the world. Even if you're atheist or agnostic, maybe just say a word to the God you don't believe or know is there; perhaps the prayers of the non-believer or the uncertain are those that carry the most weight.
I can't tell you whether it's a good idea to contact Stretch via phone, e-mail, or PM. Perhaps just a show of support here would be sufficient; I can't really say since I don't speak for him or Sidekick. All I know is that he's devastated, I'm devastated, and this night an entire community is in a state of shock that something like this could happen in such a peaceful and friendly community.
May you never know our feelings right now as bystanders, much less those of the stricken families.
Though you may have heard about this in the national media, I felt I needed to tell you that it has struck so close to home, particularly for Stretch:
Swimmers assaulted by gunman
The murdered girl was the daughter of Stretch's close friend and co-worker. She was not only physically beautiful, but a beautiful soul as well. Though I didn't know her well, I'd met her a few times and can honestly say she positively affected anyone she met. Her parents had instilled both virtue and humor in her that's rare these days (she was a really funny person). In an era where you'd just as soon kick most teenagers in the butt as talk to them, Tiffany was a joy to know--a truly good girl, in every sense of the word. She told Mom and Dad she was going to the bridge, which a lot of parents would have disallowed since it's an old rusty wreck from which high-school kids have been pulling crazy stunts for generations. Not so her Mike and Karen; her honesty and straighforwardness with them was all they needed.
The senselessness of the loss of such a wonderful young person in an incident such as this is leaves me at a complete loss for words and confused in a way which I've never felt. I have no idea what I'm going to do or say when I see her parents, whom I also consider friends. I doubt I'll be able to do much more than cry. I really want to call but don't know if I should, or what the hell I could possibly say.
Though I didn't know him personally, one of the boys killed had turned his life around for the better after having had problems with drugs several years ago, I'm told. Now that his life finally had a positive outlook, something like this happens.
Who knows what positive effects these youngsters might have had on the world in which we live. Sadly, their potential contributions were taken away from us before they could ever really develop.
I shudder to think that it could have easily been my daughter. I know that sounds selfish but it's the first thing of which you think when it hits this close to home. Lots of kids hang out at the train bridge; it's been going on since long before I spent time there myself in high school. Elaine's already past the age I was when I first started cooling (and goofing) off at that particular site. My brother jumped off it, my sisters swam beneath it. Inspired by an old Letterman gag, my friends and I once stole a "lawn jockey" and dropped it off that bridge.
A site that has brought so much joy to so many generations of kids has been transformed to a dark and ugly place, suitable only for the morbidly curious. It can never return to its former glory.
I remember Scott Johnson from high school, though I was never friends with the guy. He graduated a year behind me. I just remember him as being sort of quiet; I don't ever remember him being picked on or bullied... he just kind of kept to himself. Heck, he might have hung out there too at some point. He never really made much of an impression, I guess. He has now; may he rot in hell after an agonizing death at the hands of his fellow prisoners after he's convicted (MI has no death penalty).
My heart goes out to the families; my thoughts and prayers are with all of them. I am not equipped to grasp what they must be going through; I pray none of us ever has to be in their position.
Pray for them, and pray for the world. Even if you're atheist or agnostic, maybe just say a word to the God you don't believe or know is there; perhaps the prayers of the non-believer or the uncertain are those that carry the most weight.
I can't tell you whether it's a good idea to contact Stretch via phone, e-mail, or PM. Perhaps just a show of support here would be sufficient; I can't really say since I don't speak for him or Sidekick. All I know is that he's devastated, I'm devastated, and this night an entire community is in a state of shock that something like this could happen in such a peaceful and friendly community.
May you never know our feelings right now as bystanders, much less those of the stricken families.
