Ok thanks for the info.
Been in a bit of a fog all day, and I think you nailed it HnT. Cāville is my happy place, and while I graduated 20 years ago, itās still where I feel most connected to the community (partially because of all of you). I hate this - on so, so many levels
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I was just in Charlottesville this weekend, meeting up with some old classmates. We saw the basketball game, saw the football game, toured the Grounds, had a great time. Left Sunday just hours before the shooting. To go from seeing Cville as a place of great happiness to one of devastating sadness in less than 24 hours is emotional whiplash. I saw Lavelās fatherās quotes and just broke down. The grief is unfathomable. Canāt even imagine what their families and friends and classmates and teammates are dealing with. I ache for them all.
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Like NJ, I was in Charlottesville this past weekend visiting my daughter and S-I-L (both safe), meeting up with my oldest friend for dinner and the Monmouth game, and driving home yesterday only to be awoken by my daughter regarding the active shooter alert and the horrible news that followed.
Charlottesville is such a special place and the three days we spent this past weekend served as a constant reminder of just how many wonderful memories that I have of the school and the nearly 45 years that followed as my daughter continued in my footsteps with 2 degrees from UVa and then stayed in Charlottesville for her career. Itās been so amazing to have such a great excuse to return time and time again.
I know that no place in this country can count itself as being free from the acts of violence such as the murder of 3 young men that plague us all. However, Charlottesville seems to have had more than its share with this tragedy, the killing of Yeardley Love, the senseless killing of Heather Heyer and the spectre of the Unite the Right, not to mention the unspeakable murders of Morgan Harrington and Hannah Graham.
As Fresh said, grieve how you grieve, not only for all of the victims, but also for those who have been left behind and had to bear witness to such acts. May they also find, along with the families and friends, not only the peace that surpasses all understanding, but time in the future to hold their friends and loved ones tight, to minister to those strangers who are hurting, alone, or scared, and to embrace the endless possibilities for hope and the great memories that will come with that hope. As Cat Stevens wrote āYouāre only dancinā on this earth for a short whileā - I am so sorry that in their short while the UVa community had to experience these horrors. As Tony B. has repeatedly said, joy comes in the morning. May all find joy after the mourning of the lives lost today and before.
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Wonderful man
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Very good point and I appreciate the insight
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Really tough day on Grounds. Doesnāt feel like this feeling will be lifting anytime soon. Waking up to the news that someone I knew had his life taken away is not a feeling I would wish on anyone. The vigil tonight was powerful, and we definitely all feel a great unity during this time. Iām confident weāll move through this as a community.
#HooStrong
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If anyone has photos of the vigil to share, would really really appreciate it.
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Ross Dellenger has several and some video on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1592312186353119233?t=VOZ7i025VVjXWl78G3H7Hw&s=19
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Heās done a really good job covering this in a respectful, non intrusive way.
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I donāt know that anything can lift my spirits right now, but the scene on the Lawn last night provided some comfort. Thatās an incredible crowd, and the compassion and unity it represents shows once again why the University is such a remarkable place.
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Soā¦ i am not a fan of the sport of football, yea, I am a weirdo.
However, this has obviously hit me hard.
I just want to say that I love everyone (hooās or not) & I pray that the families can somehow find peace and that the 2 in the hospital pull through.
No words of wisdom, just simply that love will see us through.
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Unbelievable that there happens to be 3 shining stars in that pictureā¦ Also, huge shout out to the Hokies for their show of support.
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making a āVā
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So Iāve not said much on this thread outside of a few thoughts at the start of yesterday, and Iām not sure I have much to say now, but I have a few thoughts. Iāve seen so many people on this thread post about UVa and more importantly Charlottesville being their happy place, a place they found refuge and joy and how Sundayās events hurt them on a personal level having that bubble shattered. As a native of Charlottesville those comments could not resonate with me anymore.
I wasnāt born in Charlottesville, but I was raised there and in the neighboring community from the age of 4 until I left to go to school. My mom was an assistant dean at UVa for many of those years and even filled that role for some of you here. I grew up on the grounds of UVa literally. Itās in my blood the school provided opportunities for me and in many ways put food on the table. Charlottesville as a community is home to me. Iāve lived across the world and I still recognize it as my home and it is my happy place. Itās one of the few places that when I think about it I donāt have bad memories or tainted thoughts.
I havenāt been home in 3 years (the longest stretch Iāve ever been away) because of the pandemic and having 2 kids born during that stretch. On Saturday Iām driving my family from Atl to Charlottesville to see my family and spend the week there. Itās a trip Iāve looked forward to for years. The events on Sunday, struck me as they did everyone and made me want to return home even more, but the event last night on the Lawn reminded me why that school and that community are such a special place and solidified why I have to go home.
I know there will be a cloud over the entire town while we are there, but I look forward to showing my kids around the grounds, and letting them experience even a glimpse of what that wonderful place has to offer. Although they are young, I will not shield them from the truths and the scars of the community we will visit the downtown mall and I will explain what happened there in 2017. If we pass memorials I will explain to them why they are there. I want them to understand that bad things can and do happen, but being part of a special community and a special place can help you manage and get through those difficult times.
It hurts and it will hurt, but I have no doubt UVa and Charlottesville will do the right thing and pull together and support one another. I believe that because Iāve seen this forum of relative strangers pull together to support one another. There is good in this world.
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Very well said @BDragon.
I have not been able to think clearly since this happened. No parent should ever see their children laid to rest. God Bless Them All.
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