Remembering 4/16/07

Today is always a tough day for me, and it kind of snuck up on me this year due to Baby Fish's birth last week.

8 years ago today, the shootings at Virginia Tech occurred.  I was in the building next door in class and had no idea anything was happening until class was over.  This event rocked the Virginia Tech community to its core, but out of such a horrible tragedy, we came back stronger than ever.

Two years ago, I shared about all of the heroism and positivity that came from this tragedy.  Last year, I talked about how this tragedy isn't forgotten, but it doesn't define Virginia Tech, either.

At the memorial held one week after the shooting

Today, I'm just going to be silent and remember.  Remember the lives lost and what they meant to family, friends, and the Virginia Tech community.  Remember how precious life is.  Remember to tell those I love what they mean to me.  Remember the kindness of the entire country and world reaching out to us after the tragedy.  And to remember that "we will prevail."

I think this quote from right after the tragedy sums up what I'm trying to say:

"I ask each of you to take the time to be a Hokie this week. Appreciate life a little more, take in every moment around you, count your blessings, tell the people around you that you love them, slow down, remember what's truly important in life. And live selflessly for those 32 that do not have that chance."

I'll leave you with the video of Nikki Giovanni's poem, read at the convocation the day after the shooting.  This gives me chills and makes me sob every single time I watch it.

neVer forgeT 4/16/07