Wednesday, March 13, 2013

A Very Bad Day

The small town I call home has, sadly, been visited by a real life horror. Earlier today a man who lives around the block from me went on a spree that still isn't over. He gunned down four people at the barber shop where I have my hair cut, and at least two of those people are dead. He then went on to murder two more people and is currently surrounded by a massive police force.

This whole thing is terrifying. My son and my SO's daughters are still under lockdown at their schools. When I couldn't reach them via cell phone I just lost it. The barber shop is just a block away from the school and, well, you can imagine how that feels. As a parent all you know is that someone is on a rampage and THEY'RE NEAR YOUR KIDS. It's the most horrible feeling in the world. I can't describe the sense of relief when the overloaded cell system finally let me get a call through and they were all safe.

I'm not really sure why I'm even writing this, other than as a catharsis. I intentionally avoid talking about myself too much since I like my privacy and, frankly, I think it's a bit self-indulgent. My life isn't all that interesting.

I'd give anything for it to go back to being that way.

Here's the local paper's story on the shooting. They're keeping it updated pretty regularly.

Update: I wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes. My son, who's still my little bubbaloo even though he's 6' 7" and can bench press a car, is home safe and sound after being let out of lockdown. The girls will hopefully be out soon. The standoff continues.

Update: Everyone is home now. The shooter is holed up in an abandoned building. My barber, John Seymour, one of kindest and most giving men I've ever known, is in critical condition. It's hard to describe how important a barber is in a small town like this. His shop wasn't just a place to get your hair cut, but the unofficial seat of town government.

32 comments:

Unknown said...

I sincerely hope your friends and family come out unscathed and that the nightmare soon ends. I'm sure I speak for all your readers when I say that we're here for you however we can be.

Charles R. Rutledge said...

Glad that you and yours are safe, and hope that the situation is resolved soon with no more casualties.

Countess VonRauber (Heidi) said...

That's awful :( I'm glad that your kids are ok and I hope that the gunmen is caught soon. Hang in there.

??? said...

I'm so sorry this happened. I'm glad your family is safe and I hope they catch the guy soon.

drjon said...

Gods. Stay safe, okay?

C. Haunton said...

If you're not really sure why you're writing this, then I'm doubly unsure why I'm responding. I don't live near you, I don't expect I'll ever meet you, and even if I were right there right now there's nothing I could do to help the situation.
That said, for the last couple years I've spent a tiny bit of every morning with your words and I want to do whatever I can to help with this moment of all too real insanity.
I suppose all that means is saying that I'll keep you and your loved ones in my thoughts and wish that this can be resolved with the least bloodshed possible.
I hope that you can get to your people soon and hold them all a little tighter tonight. Good luck.

Dr. Theda said...

These type of events "so close to Home" ... can be Very traumatic and take from us our feelings of "Safety" ... My best wishes...

destoo said...

Toutes nos sympathies et pensées sont pour vous.
--destoo
(sorry, won't say it in english as it will probably sound ackward)

Mr. Harold said...

Be safe and I hope all your loved ones are ok. Hopefully it will with no one else getting hurt.

Springinsfeld said...

Here's hoping to your family getting home safe and sound soon. A truly terrifying experience for you all, I can only imagine how I would feel with my kids in the same situation. best wishes from the other side of the pond.

Machele O'Dufaigh said...

My thoughts are with you, I visit everyday, I so wish you did not have to experience such trauma♥

Jason McKittrick said...

Stay safe.

Stefan said...

I wish you and yours the best in these dark days. Stay safe.

Lisa said...

OMG, how scary! Glad to hear one of the kids is home safe & thoughts & prayers that the rest get home soon!

{{hugs}}

Laurent said...

As lo,g as it can mean something, my thoughts are with you and all your people.
Take care !
Laurent

Sean said...

Glad that you and your family are okay. I hope this can be resolved with as little loss of life as possible.

Anonymous said...

What a terrible thing. My best to you & yours.

Ari said...

So sorry! That's a horror no one wants to ever experience. I'm happy to hear that your family is safe. Sending you good thoughts and blessings.

Unknown said...

Hope you and your family are OK and that you you all get through this... I also hope your barber, Mr Seymour, and the other injured people pull through this terrible time.

Love and hope, all the way from Ireland...


Paul

Ari said...

Glad your family is okay. That is a horror no one should experience. Good thoughts and blessings to you and everyone there. Stay safe!

CoastConFan said...

You never know when trouble is on its way. Maybe it will veer off so far away that you never knew it was near. Sometimes it’s a quick brush and it’s over before you know what happened. Sometimes it moves slowly and you can see it; but like in a dream, you can’t move, you can’t diverge it from its course, you cry out but cannot change a thing. That’s really the worst. I have the greatest sympathy for you and your trials and those of your community, Propnomicon. I have no idea what I can do except express my support for you and your town.

Thorrsman said...

Glad to hear your kids are safe. Sorry about your friend the barber. I hope he recovers.

My desire is that this guy can be talked into surrender, though I suspect we all know how this will end.

Madness and terror belong between the covers of a book, not on a city street.

Heather Jean Skalwold said...

Holy smokes! I just came on to get the RSS feed to the blog and I saw this post! That's absolutely horrifying! I am very glad you and your family are alright.

Phil said...

Happy to hear everyone in your home is safe. Jeez, wtf is wrong with people in this country?

Schlitzie said...

I'm sorry something like this happened to ya man. I hope your friend pulls through,and I'm glad your family is ok! You run an awesome site,but it's also nice to get to know a little about the man behind the curtain. Wish ya the best!

Naamah said...

Oh my lord. As a small-town kid, yeah, I get the horror. I am so sorry. My thoughts are with you and with everyone affected by this tragedy.

Joseph Brown said...

The fun we have with fantasy horror is pale in comparison to the real horror that can just break into our everyday world. I have read your blog everyday for a couple of years now, so it seems appropriate to wish you and yours blessings.

Nils Bross said...

All my best wishes and hopes to you and your beloved ones!

Jeff said...

May heart and thoughts go out to you and those effected by this tragedy.

London Boat Game Guy said...

I am just catching up with the blog. What an awful scenario. I am only glad it has now been resolved and that you and your family are all safe.

Manny is Dead said...

So sad to hear about that. Thank god your kids are ok.

Abrazos y paz (hugs and peace)

P.A. Koroluk said...

My thoughts and prayers have very much been with all the people of Herkimer and Mohawk. I wish I could be there with you in person, as well. (Please check your Facebook page from time to time! :) )