I don’t know either and I find it hard to grasp…but I did go see the movie here a few nights ago. I had to admit that every time someone stood up to go to the bathroom, I paid attention and watched for a few seconds to make sure the person was really just going to the bathroom.

I wonder if it’s a bit like flying in a plane in the days after the 9/11 attacks. You are on edge, you pay attention, you’ve lost a bit of trust in the unknown person next to you, you are fearful and angry.

I live a couple of minutes from that theater myself and I hate all of this crap. I have avoided that area for a week, but I passed by today to pick up my brother in law who works directly across the street. Saw the memorials and all the people — it was odd. My kids are hearing about it for the first time now and processing it in their little kid way. It’s not very meaningful to them, but they know it’s “bad.”

I don’t want to be in a theater for a long time :/ I just fear idiotic mimics, you know? I am trying to just go about my daily business without living in fear, even though I feel it rise up at least once a day. I am encouraged by all the “love one another” messages coming out, stories of courage and love and care…I do think that a large number of people will be transformed to become messengers and lives lived for peace and love to counteract the fear and evil.
But unfortunately, this stuff adds to the sentiment that things get worse all the time.

I was thinking today that one thing astrology has taught me is that life is not linear in any direction. Human experience is not linear — it is cyclical, circular. Things are not “always getting worse” in some straight line that will end in an evil implosion. Rather, the tide ebbs and flows. The good grows and the bad grows. The good ebbs and the bad ebbs. We can’t quantify it. So I think it’s important that we all do our part to CHOOSE to add to the peaceful/loving/fearless energy in the universe — tip that circular scale in a positive direction Create a positive space for humanity to return to over and over again, you know? I do believe this is real and possible and is already occurring in the lives of a lot of people.

I can’t imagine being hit by a tragedy like that on such a local, immediate level. There are counselors whose entire job is to heal communities dealing with things like that. Really, movie theaters are no more or less safe now than they ever were – while there’s the very real concern of copycat shootings, ultimately it boils down to how the shooter happened to pick a place where a lot of people were gathering. But that doesn’t lessen the impact in the slightest. My thoughts to your family and community.

It’s been over ten years since Columbine. I bet the folks impacted by that other ‘senseless tragedy’ could give you an answer to your question, Elsa.

Bad things, natural or man-made, constantly happen to good people around the globe and always have…it’s different when it’s close to home or it happens to you or someone you know. Many of us are indifferent to the concerns of others, specially when it doesn’t impact us in any manner…many of us are sympathetic in an abstract way. The events in Aurora have allowed a conversion of understanding for you and your son, Elsa. Unfortunately, your son gets the added bonus of the bicycle incident. Several years ago, I was run-over by a truck as I walked my bicycle through a cross-walk at a stop sign…the driver didn’t stop…so I’m empathetic to your son’s hit-and-run. It hasn’t stopped me from riding my bicycle, but it has added more awareness to the reality of my rides. Life is full of potential mayhem and death; we were born to die…it’s a matter of when…a roll of the dice. I hope your son’s trauma will convert to the knowledge that life is special, best to be lived in the here and now to the fullest extent possible. A positive reaction to being a survivor is to be more empowered in your own life and to be concerned for others and help others in their time of need.

That business is not open, Windsaloft. I meant that people in other parts of the country went.

I was at the shooting mall 2 days ago, and you could not even drive by the theater. I am sorry I was not clear.

I don’t know Elsa. I think it will always be in the back of your mind when you drive by the area, even if the building is torn down.

I am surprised by how much it has affected me. I live 200 miles away, but I grew up in Littleton (now Centennial) which is also in Arapahoe County. It was not like this when I grew up in the 60s and 70s. It was Mayberry back then. Now two of most horrific mass murders in our country’s history have occured in Arapahoe County, my home town/county and I just can’t believe it. My father still lives in the home I grew up in. I worry about him. All of my family lives in the metro Denver area, I worry about all of them.

I’m having trouble getting this story out of my mind. Those he killed and injured were not people he knew or had personal vendettas (sp?) with, yet in the way he did it, it was very intimate and personal. We’re lucky those that lived in his apartment building are not all dead.

Crazed people like this seem to be drawn to an area where these types of crimes had happened before. Last year two girls (twins) from Australia I think it was came to Arapahoe County to a shooting range so that they could attempt suicide at the shooting range. One was successful. As I recall they idolized the boys responsible for Columbine.

I know that a part of me has been changed forever by this, like a part of me has been forever changed by 9/11, by Oklahoma City, by JFK – one of my earliest childhood memories. I also know that’s what the madman wants and I don’t want it to be that way, but it is.

Man, I really don’t know. I have lived through Pepper Spray Drama this last year, but at least nobody died. It’s weird to hear your town all over the media so I relate on that level, but beyond that, no clue.

I suspect within a year, all movie theaters are going to have metal detectors and searches before you go in-like most public events these days.

i don’t think i’ll ever stop struggling with recognizing how brutal reality can be. but what else can one do but live? as bright as possible?

I don’t live in Aurora> But as soon as I heard the story, I thought, “Those could have been my children.” I am really afraid that we will lose any sense of community. Instead everyone will huddle in their homes, afraid to send their children to school, afraid to go to the theater, and afraid of society at large.

Elsa, I have a 7 year old son. Your comments about your boy really hit home for me. I live in a very rural community in the Blue Ridge Mountains of VA. My son attends a small Waldorf school. There are 6 kids in his class. I don’t live in fear and my decision to live in the sticks is not a fear based choice. Having said that, I don’t want to be in a situation like this event. I feel that my chances of being involved in a community trauma like this are reduced because of where I live.

I agree that PTSD counseling would be a great idea for you and your family. I am sure you are all still in shock and the raw feelings that go along with something like this take time to heal. Be gentle with yourself. Many blessings to you and your family.