Mall Tragedy

Two weeks ago, at the Westroads mall, which is across the river in Omaha, 8 people were killed and 5 people were wounded by a troubled boy.  What followed was a long day of news reports and people trying to figure out where their loved ones were located.  The mall opened up a day or two afterward and the Von Maur, where the shootings took place, will reopen tomorrow, I believe. 

I wasn't at work at the time nor was I anywhere near the mall.  I have, however, been in there many times before with my family.  I've lunched there with my wife and shopped there for X-mas presents.  The shooting brings things like Columbine and other random shootings into my little reality.  Before today, I'd never been anywhere near those places.  The rest of the country saw a blurb on CNN and probably reacted much like I did with those other shootings: "Man, that sucks.  I hope that doesn't happen here." Now it's happened in my own "backyard" and it's a lot more scary and real.  It's sad that this had to happen but I don't think there was any way for it to be stopped.  Chaos is unpredictable by definition. 

As for me, I am in Minneapolis this week attending Red Hat Linux training.  I visited the Mall of America Monday night and I noticed I was a bit more aware of the people around me.  I stayed away from the railings and gave everyone their distance.  It's wierd feeling so insecure and I hope it goes away. 

I wrote a post here full of raw emotion, fear and anger, only hours after the shooting.  My wife made me realize I sounded like a jackass.  Those of us on the outside of the that chaos were scared but have it easy.  I hope the people directly impacted by the loss of their friends and family have started or will start to heal soon.