Yesterday, like many Americans, I woke to the horrible news of another mass shooting, this time at an outdoor country music concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. At least 59 people were dead, more than 500 were injured. The number of guns and amount of ammunition this 64-year-old shooter had in his hotel room and home is utterly astounding. And the current speculation is that he used a semiautomatic rifle that had been illegally, of course, converted to a fully automatic rifle so that he could shoot almost continuously for 4 and 1/2 minutes from a 32nd floor hotel room down into a crowd of people gathered across the street. This is madness…
The morning news pretty much ran into the noon news with the story run again and again. There are some bright spots. We’ve heard amazing stories about the Las Vegas first responders and ordinary people in the crowd who helped and protected each other amid the chaos and fear Sunday night. So many people lined up to give blood that some had to be turned away.
I then got a message from a former neighbor asking if it was true that one of our friends had died over the weekend. I hadn’t been home much so I was totally shocked to check messages on Facebook and find it was true! My lovely neighbor, Sue Smith, whose family moved into their home across the street the same summer that we moved into this house 25 years ago, died suddenly from a brain aneurysm this weekend. Sue worked in the school district as a special needs aide, planted gorgeous flowers in her yard and took care of my dogs many times when I went on vacation over the years. She was truly the glue that held her family together and my heart is breaking for them.
Then I heard that my brother’s sister-in-law, whom I knew was on a river cruise in Europe with her husband, developed a brain bleed and is hospitalized in Switzerland! If doctors agree to allow her to return to the States for treatment, she will need to be on an air ambulance from Zürich to Chicago and in an ambulance to a hospital here. My sister- in-law is understandably worried sick about her sister, Lynn, having to make that flight. I’m humbly asking for your prayers and good thoughts for the coming weeks.
And if all that wasn’t enough awful news, singer Tom Petty suffered a massive cardiac episode and was removed from life support Monday afternoon. He did not make it through the night.
I really am grateful for all wonderful people and things in my life. But Monday was a truly sucky day. I’m going to my happy place, even if it’s just in my mind…
LadiesWhoLunchReviews,etc 
We all need to go to our happy places, it doesn’t do to dwell overlong with all the horrors. Hugs from afar.
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Lovely, sad…bittersweet post. Such madness going on at the mo. My Monday was also pretty sh*t. It sure was. In fact, I lost my ‘Washington DC Sh*t’… more than once yesterday. I have not been watching the telly…and the radio is not on. Which is pretty unusual for me. As a result, I am only hearing snippets of convos here in London from bus, Tube etc. And even that…it too much to bear. Anyway, am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Sending hugs from this side of the Pond. xx
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I’m sorry to hear this, and will be thinking of you, your family and the family of your lovely neighbor.
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I had to turn the TV off, it’s too much for me right now. I can’t handle it anymore. I sorry the loss of your friend.
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So sorry for the loss of your neighbor, and for the difficulties in emergency travel from Switzerland to a hospital here. Those are issues that I can at least try to wrap my head around from the standpoint of personal experience and understanding. I cannot do that with the Las Vegas shootings. it is too far beyond normal behavior that I simply cannot comprehend the evil that would have consumed the shooter. Once again I have to turn to my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and remember that, even though it appears that the forces of evil are winning, He has conquered evil and death. In Him there is hope and peace even in overwhelming times..
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Truly a sucky Monday all around. Prayers for your neighbors, inlaws, and our countrymen in Las Vegas so cruelly terrorized. Such a tragic start to October.
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No words.
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We all need to find that place of retreat to safety…these days it is mostly internal. Thoughts and prayers for your family and neighbors.
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Good luck finding the happy place – you certainly could use a few minutes there.
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So sorry for your loss. It’s an especially rough week for that news. ♥
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Oh Diane I’m so sorry to read this. So very sorry, so very sad. It’s such scary times we live in. Find your happy place, we all need that and take care. xo
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Yes, October is never my favorite month. I’m feeling better about things, though I hate looking at my neighbor’s beautiful yard and expecting to see her out there
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I can imagine it would be hard. x
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xoxoxoxo love and hugs
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Reblogged this on LadiesWhoLunchReviews,etc and commented:
FRIDAY UPDATE: I posted this back in the fall and I have an update on my brother’s sister-in-law. After months of MRIs, scans, therapy and much improvement, a recent MRI in January showed that she did indeed have a brain tumor. Apparently there was too much residual swelling and bleeding from what happened in Switzerland for doctors to be able to tell anything distinctly. And she was so improved, talking, regaining gross and fine motor skills, etc.
She had surgery to remove the tumor on Wednesday at a suburban hospital affiliated with Northwestern. We are so lucky to have access to wonderful health care in the Chicago area. The doctor believed he got all of the tumor and was not immediately able to identify the type or grade of tumor, which I understand is actually a good sign. Pathology will take weeks, but hopefully there will be an initial report soon. Upon waking in recovery, she was able to talk and respond to questions (you know, what day, year, who is the president, that kind of thing) so we are cautiously optimistic! Thank you all for your many prayers and also for the recent ones I requested. The power of prayer, especially on a grand scale, is wonderful!!
And, BTW, I will be going to my happy Hawaiian place next week to celebrate hubby’s birthday this year in actuality. I literally cannot wait to get on that plane!
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I hope life gives you the opportunity to live in this happy place for a long time. You deserve it.
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Aww, thanks, Andrew! The world is a crazy place lately but hope is such a powerful thing. And I’ve decided I can choose to remain optimistic about things, so that’s what I will do. Hope you are coping with life well, my friend …
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