April 20, 2010

• Today, I remember

  April 20, 1999.   That is the date that two boys decided to go on a shooting spree at Columbine High School.   I remember that day very clearly. I was working as a receptionist in an office in downtown Denver.  I was a few months pregnant with my second child.  It was a sunshiny day with blue skies and fluffy clouds.  Business as usual.  Just after lunch the phone rang.  I answered it because that was my job.  It was a girl wanting to talk to her dad.  I told her that he was out of the office but I could take a message.  She sounded out of breath.  She said, “Just tell my dad that I’m ok.  That is all.. I’m ok.”   I told her I would.  I thought it was kind of silly to call to say you were ok.  What a weird message.  I didn’t even write it down.  I figured I’d tell him when I saw him again.  

  About 3 minutes later there was all sorts of commotion in the office.  There was one room that had TV’s on constantly.  I don’t really know why, but it had something to do with trading and oil and wall street.. I just answered phones.  Anyway, everyone was talking about Columbine high and the shooting.  I connected the dots and DID write down that message then to tell the girls dad as soon as I could.  Work ceased while people were just glued to the TVs.  I stayed at my reception desk.

  I remember one lady coming out of her area and standing in front of me waiting on the elevator to get there.  She had a son at that school and she was going to go get him.  She had on a red dress that had gold buttons.  She leaned on the wall by the elevator door and just stared blankly in my direction.  The look in her eye was distant and frightened.  When the doors opened she got in as fast as she could.  It is a picture I have stuck in my memory of that day.  A few hours later we learned that her son was one of the ones that lost his life that day.  You could feel the weight of that announcement all over the office. 

  As the days went by and weeks went by, stories about what happened that day began to be told.  One of the stories was about a girl named Cassie Bernall.  (google her name to read her story if you haven’t already).  She was in the library.  When the shooter asked if she believed in God, she said yes.. then she was shot.  That is a very powerful story to me.  I did a little research and wrote a letter to her parents.  They were very gracious and wrote a letter back to us.  We chose to name our baby after their daughter.  After she was born, we took her to meet those parents.  It was a beautiful and healing and touching experience.  We’ve kept in contact over the years here and there.  Today, I remember them and my former co-worker and I pray that God will continue to comfort them and give them peace. 

  Hugs to everyone

  • 11:48 am
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