My friend and I went for a walk before sitting down to watch the Anderson Cooper Live show that I attended last week.  The cast of the Hobbit were the guests and my friend Abby was selected to ask Richard Armitage a question.  But instead of watching a fun time we were interrupted during our walk by my brother calling me from California to ask “How close is Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown to you…  Next town over. My friend Amy’s children were there before they moved to Los Osos, California in July… there’s been a shooting… a shooting?!”

Then we grab our iphones and start searching for news.  Told the police were on lookout for a purple/maroon van with possible suspects heading our way.  Call the school— since we found out there was no lockdown, no police presence (which changed)  Told 2 people shot then as news comes in 4 people shot.  We got to my house sat down and news coverage was tuned in to the story.  Misinformation of course gave us wrong person for a while but the most shocking was the numbers.  

27 people dead.  So many children.  We just broke down sobbing.  It’s right next door, just miles away, we know people there with children in the school.  It could have been our children.  It is just so fucking insane and senseless.  

The gunman entered the classes and shot 5-6-7 year old children.  My son is in kindergarten with a boy who would’ve gone to that school but his mom is a teacher in our town and can send him to our school.  How lucky she must feel for that choice.  How horrible it is for so many families in Newtown.  A friend of a friend had not heard as of 5 pm about her first grade son, but it now seems that the worst is the reality. 

This day forever changed so many lives.  I am so saddened and sorry for the families in Sandy Hook.  My heart goes out to all the families. 

And we have heard that the friend’s son was killed.  So horrible. I feel for the family.  

For the first time I’m happy my friend and her family moved.  Her daughter had 10 friends killed.  Amy knew several teachers and the principal. It’s just tragic.