In no particular order, with no thought to ranking them for importance, here's what I'm thinking 730 days into my life after bullets. I was going to recycle an old post, but TBG said that you might be interested in how I'm doing, how I'm feeling, what I have to say. I guess it still hasn't hit me that anyone pays any attention to me.
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TBG is waxing eloquent about Christina-Taylor's mom, Roxanna Green. He's using words like brave, which is a big deal for my guy. He compliments sparingly. According to TBG, my girlfriend is a beacon of graciousness in the darkness of this event, and I couldn't agree with him more.
I couldn't be the woman I am today were she and her husband, John, not the people they are: kind, unwilling to assign blame, realistic, forward looking, full of determination and an open-hearted embrace of the world as it is... and as they, and we, can make it. They've taken the platform which tragedy presented and created an infrastructure of healing and helping and financial support for good deeds.
I've never written any of that before. They're private people, but then, weren't we all two years and two days ago. I keep details of our friendship just that, our details. But the broad brush strokes are worth sharing. I'm glad I did.
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I'd love to be a fly on the wall as members of Congress look Gabby and Mark in the eye and refuse to consider reasonable gun controls. Americans for Responsible Solutions is taking the fight to the belly of the politicians' beast; by communicating directly with the constituents that elect them
Their presence alone is worth gazillions; the woman has star power in spades and she's married to the only untarnished American hero extant. It won't take as much money as you are afraid that it will, but it will take some.
Are you ready for action? Do you wonder why your Congress is not responsive to what's obvious to most everyone except the NRA? Are you are interested in responsible gun ownership and legislation and enforcement that makes sense? If so, click on over and join the conversation.
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Hearing Gabby tell Diane Sawyer that she is lonely nearly broke my heart tonight. She should be leading the charge for this legislation herself. If that alone isn't enough to spur this country to action ....
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I went to Ben's Bells and got two bells to hang from a random branch. I went to UMC for a not very private ceremony and I cried. I went to Prince Elementary and ate spinach at lunch with the kids before we walked around the playground, singing "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man." I had lunch at my favorite french cafe before PT and then I ran to the Pima County Attorney's office for an AM talk show interview on the wonderfulness that is their Victim's Services program. I returned the rental car twice - please, don't ask - and came home to watch snippets of myself on television.
A year ago that agenda would have been an insurmountable challenge. Right now, I'm a little bit tired but not too achy.
Progress is now measured in seasons. It's taking some getting used to.
Then, again, I'm here to get used to it, am I not?
Roxanna is just amazing in the Demand a Plan video. So poignant and eloquent. As I told her yesterday on FB, COURAGE is my new word to use. Does Congress have the courage to stand up and do what's right?
ReplyDeleteAll of you have the right to hide in a corner and not even want to deal with the public in any way, but you are using your experience to help others.
I watched Gabby and cried. But I'm so proud of what all of you are doing. If it saves just one more life...
I've been having a hard time sleeping lately. This is all swimming around in my head and I need to just focus and contain it and put my anger to good use. Just being angry isn't enough. I need to put action to that anger. I think that's what I find so amazing about all of you. Here you were subjected to something so horrific and yet you have the capacity and love to go on and to also make sure it doesn't happen again. Again.... COURAGE!
From one who thinks all of you are amazing!
Megan xxx
As Little Cuter learned in therapy, ACTION is the solution to anxiety, not sleeping,m stuff swimming around in your head. You go, girl!
DeleteI thought Mark Kelly and Gabby were very effective especially as they say they are gun owners. And Roxanna Green seemed the antithesis of the nutcase Alex something or other who ranted on and made the case for no guns anywhere.
ReplyDeleteAs a gun owner with a concealed weapon permit which I have had pretty much since Oregon allowed such, I rarely carry (pepper spray is better to carry and I rarely carry that either) but will keep that permit as long as I am allowed. I favor tough background checks, long waiting periods to buy any gun, no assault or semi-assault rifles, no extended magazines and I'd go beyond blocking sales and also demand they be turned in as part of a buyback program. I realize the nuts won't turn them in. The survivalists won't turn them in. Those who think revolution won't turn them in; but we have to start somewhere and somewhere should make guns harder for people to buy with a really good federal system to be sure background checks have meaning. It isn't enough as we also need the mental health changes but again-- we have to start somewhere.
You are thoughtful and sane, Rain. There was a man with a concealed weapon on 1.8.11 who opted not to shoot b/c he couldn't be sure who he'd hit. He used a lawn chair,instead.
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I am way more conservative than most people who comment on this blog - and yet I agree with everything Rain Trueax said! I am praying that there are enough reasonable conservatives out there to get common sense reforms accomplished. I'd like to be that fly on the wall with you AB watching Gabby and Mark in Congress.
ReplyDeleteIt's not conservative or liberal, it's reasonable, ForestGirl, as you point out. We can find common ground, if we look for it with open hearts and minds.
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I watched a great documentary today called Beyond Belief...about two 9/11 widows who created an organization to help Afghan widows. In it, I heard the term post-traumatic growth. That's what you exhibit every day of your life. I'm so proud to know you, even in this limited way through you blog.
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