February 13, 2009

I am remembering.....

Valentine's Day won't ever be the same for me. Last year on February 14th at 3:20 pm, I was on my way to my Geography class in Cole Hall at NIU in DeKalb, IL. I was in my car making my way through campus to the parking garages. I was listening to NPR and noticed way too many people walking on the sidewalks all on cell phones. Suddenly, I heard breaking news through the radio about shootings that happened. It wasn't clear where exactly the shooting happened. They thought it was in the bookstore. For whatever reason, I drove in the parking garages, seeing everybody fleeing out of there. I then found out that the shooting took place in Cole Hall and campus is closed. On my detoured (due to traffic) way home, I got almost hit by the other cars twice because roads where closed and it was a total chaos. Later, I learned that the shooter is dead and some students were shot. I was able to call everyone that I am OK.
It took me a few hours to realize that I might of been right there if I wasn't running late. My class was supposed to take place in THAT lecture hall right after theirs.
It's been a year and I still start walking much faster passing Cole Hall, I still stop and remember when seeing signs like this around town, and somehow, I stopped running late for my classes.



To learn more about what happend, you can go here.

5 comments:

Latane Barton said...

I'm so thankful you are safe. And, feel so badly for the families of those lost. Life is so precious.

Becky said...

Oh gosh, that's horrible! Glad you're ok...those type of moments really make you realize how fragile life can be.

Christina Lane | The Sometimes Crafter said...

Scary thought to think you might have been there. But you weren't. You have too much crafting and blogging left to do before your "time" is up. :) I'm glad you were safe.

Dana said...

Oh my. Thank goodness you were running late that day.

jacquie said...

how difficult for you! that's such a tough memory to deal with every year. glad you were late that day!