It’s interestingly, a grey dreary day… blue sky just peeking through, but dark grey up until recently, with rain drops trickling down here and there…
A year ago a humyn walked down the street where I sit now- the Danforth, and shot a whole bunch of people, as they spent time together, as they do… because it is the kind of place and neighbourhood where the people DO spend time/family/community together, for years.
I just walked by a picture and orchid wreath put up for a young girl, the youngest who was killed- only 10 years old. I remembered how STRONG my empathy was last year when I heard…
I remember the next night I walked up the short distance to get here, and immediately started crying once I ran into a familiar face… so full of emotions…at all that it meant for it to have ACTUALLY happened… and, in ‘my’ neighbourhood.
This fountain coffee shop, a place I have been frequenting more so since my kids have been in daycare (and post-shooting), I have really enjoyed sitting here to have morning reflections. It is a central meeting point for folks in the area… the fountain. I have enjoyed being here because I can see and know that this is where folks have been gathering together for years… the elders of the neighbourhood, the kids… they all come together here.
Last year many people were shot in close proximity to where i sit now, and this became the main commemoration spot.
I just spoke to the barista here at the fountain, and I remarked how it’s going to be a busy day here, with lots of people coming in, with lots of feelings. She said she was in Greece last summer when it happened, I recalled my experience of it… not as ‘rooted’ as her, considering her connection to this community…but we both got goose bumps, so we both are humyns affected.
She said something to me that I am using as my ‘take-away’… something along the lines of… we need to not let his intention live out… as in, us being here, remembering it this year, and every year, such a tragedy… we must not let the person who shot- his feelings and intentions in those awful moments- to grow, and get any bigger than they were. Let not those live on.
What I understand she was more saying, was what to Focus on- to let the LOVE feelings that are present here, in the families/neighborhood/
But do not let the BAD overtake, do not let that outshine/overpower.
Tonight there will be a sunset vigil, and I plan to be here:
To Commemorate: to recall and show respect (for someone or something), as Wikipedia says.
To bear witness, to FEEL, in solidarity. And also to make sure I remember to connect the dots to OUTSIDE this neighborhood. We, and this, is all connected to the bigger picture in the world. We are all connected. It is my humyn responsibility to do so.
SO I will NOT let the shooter’s intention overpower/outshine, but I will also not be naïve to NOT see how we (as humyns) got here. I also will acknowledge what I DO respect of this community, and the goose bump feelings that aligned with another sister, who feels deeply for what happened here…. As do I.
May we all learn to focus more on the LOVE and goodness, than on the awful bad-ness… Or can we at least be part of the energy that SHIFTS us closer to the goodness, as this beautiful, humble and insightful local barista knew.
May this Barista have a good day, may she stay energized, calm, grounded, for this day that will bring to HER many emotions, in the form of folks purchasing snacks and nourishment from her…
AND, she actually will...do you know WHY? Because although there will be many heavy-emotional folks around her today- she is IN the center of her community- so she simultaneously, she will be supported.
AND, she actually will...do you know WHY? Because although there will be many heavy-emotional folks around her today- she is IN the center of her community- so she simultaneously, she will be supported.
THIS is the remedy and solution to all of life’s heartaches, and this awful occurrence…. Community DOES support and listens, and feels, TOGETHER.
This is the Danforth and it's welcoming community. ‘Danforth Strong’ for sure.
This is the Danforth and it's welcoming community. ‘Danforth Strong’ for sure.
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