When Simon and I first heard the news of the shooting of our district 8 Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and many of the people there to see her on Saturday, we were just completely stunned. Then we were ashamed to be from Tucson. Then, as we listened to the stories of heroism and how so many people there responded to help in the aftermath of the shooting. We were so proud. Those were our neighbors rushing into help. From the first responders, to the man who hit the shooter with a folding chair and helped subdue him.
I confess, I haven't posted or taken one photo since the mass shooting here. I have been overwhelmed trying to process it all. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims. We have had so many conversations at our house now about it all. We have come to the conclusion that words have meaning. We need to weigh our words so much more carefully towards others. Not only in our own families, but in public forums and in public discussions. We need to teach our children civility. (Believe me, that ain't easy. I have a teenager. I know). We can not say anything we please, words have consequences. From the really painful things that kids say to each other, to the mean things that husbands and wives at times say to one another. We have to filter ourselves. In the heat of the moment or the heat of a tight political race. Words have meaning and you can't ever take them back. We need to teach our children empathy. We need to teach our children civility. We need to teach our children that others matter.
When little girl wakes up from her nap. I am taking the Philip and Ellie to pay our respects to all the victims of Saturday's shooting. We are so happy and really relieved that against all odds Gabby Giffords seems to have pulled through.
