Today, We Are All Hokies

It takes something so unspeakably heinous to put things into perspective.

Over the course of the past two weeks, I have had Easter dinner with my step-brothers and their awesome kids, bought two CDs at Best Buy, went to Busch Stadium and attended yet another MIG E-Board meeting. Those were fun things.

On Easter Sunday, I took the drive to Decatur to have dinner with my mom, my step-dad and the family. I hesitate to keep using the word step to refer to my step-brothers because I consider them to be my brothers. I haven’t met the oldest because he lives in Massachusetts. My middle step-brother just moved to Cedar Rapids for a better job and the youngest lives in Peoria. I had a great time after dinner playing with my two new nephews (5 years and 6 months) and my new niece (11 months). I have pictures, so ask me to see them sometime.

Buying the CDs is pretty big because I rarely buy music anymore. I really wanted the new Collective Soul greatest hits CD (7even Year Itch: Collective Soul’s Greatest Hits 1994-2001). You should buy it because it is really good (if you’re into mid-90s music). I’ve been listening to it, Depeche Mode and Duran Duran pretty much non-stop since then. I’m sure it’s driving my co-workers crazy.

Friday the 13th saw Shana, Ira and I head to the STL. We drove to the Casino Queen, parked and rode the Metro Link into the city proper. We went to Union Station, fed the goldfish and ourselves. Along the way, Shana suggested that we go to a Cards game. Evidently, she expected me to put the kibosh on that idea.

I didn’t because I wanted to see if Cubs fans didn’t spontaneously combust walking into the stadium. They don’t, but apparently Cubs fans should NEVER attend their first baseball game of the new season where the Cubs aren’t playing. It upset Harry Caray and he rained out the game. We ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory before departing for the Springfield area.

Sunday was yet another MIG Board meeting. I went even though my back was killing me. Looks like things will run well this year.

Yesterday was horrible. The shootings on the Virginia Tech campus jolted everyone back into a reality that we try to forget. There is evil out there in the world; some right in your backyard. I have no idea what snapped in that deranged student’s mind to make him think killing 30 or so people would make things all right. Obviously, he was disturbed but is enjoying a special place in hell.

This is the absolute most inappropriate time to start talking about gun control or conceal and carry, etc. If you’re going to talk about things these things, go elsewhere. For the next few days, we need to be thinking about and praying for the victims and their families. We should also spend time thinking about the people we hold dear and let them know how we feel. Use this time wisely!