I still remember that horrible day... I was living in CA at the time and was having such a rough morning. My mom had just died less than a month and I was still trying to cope.
It was a Tuesday morning and I got Andrew in the car and we headed to school for a long drive on the freeway. I was weepy and missing my mother terriblly... I remember Andrew talking to me from the back seat and all I could do was utter, "Uh-huh" over and over again. I guess he realized I wasn't really listening to him and he just sat there looking out the window.
We made it to school and I gave him a kiss and told him to have a nice day and I would see him after school. I went to my classroom and got on with my day... my mood got better as the morning progressed and I was beginning to feel a lot better. Lunch time came and then I remember going to the office and that is when all of us heard about that terrible day in Littleton, Colorado!
I was glued to the T.V. and remembered praying so hard for the community of Columbine. I was so sad and felt for the students, teachers, staff, and parents. I remember going to Andrew's classroom and asking his teacher if I could see him for a bit. I apologized to him for my mood that morning and gave him such a big hug! I told him I loved him more than life itself. I was numb and could not imagine what that school was going through at that moment.
This past summer, Andrew had a basketball camp in Denver, CO and Gene and I decided to go and support him. We drove through the community of Littleton and I asked Gene, "How do I know this town?" I could not put my finger on it, but as we kept driving we passed Columbine Ave and then it all came to me.
Gene and I found out where Columbine High was at and we went to see the school and visited the Memorial behind the school. Columbine is a beautiful high school in a gorgeous community. Littleton is a family community and a very involved community. How could something so tragic happen in this beautiful community? We went up to the memorial and were at awe at how special it is. Flowers everywhere and the simplicity of the Memorial really does take your breath away. Gene and I were very touched by the memorial and I cried when I read the tributes to those who lost their lives on that dreadful day and the quotes from those who were affected by the tragedy. 10 years... amazing how time flies by!
Entrance to the Memorial...
Wall of tributes: The plaques on the wall are quotes from Students, teachers, parents, and President Clinton. I wept as I read the plaques.
One of the quotes that is on the tribute wall at the Memorial...
Another quote from the memorial wall.
Looking down on the Memorial of those who lost their lives... this was a very emotional part of the memorial because it told about each person. I just cried when I read each plaque.
