I will not deign to believe I hold more than two things in common with Mindy Corporan, the woman who lost her son and father in the senseless shootings in Overland Park on Sunday. Number 1: The honor of sharing a small business award three years apart. Number 2: Motherhood.
It’s the motherhood part of our commonalities that had me thinking about “Game of Thrones” – a show I have never laid eyes on and never will – as I drove down Main Street yesterday with my son. We were on a mission to rent a tuxedo for prom. We were laughing and smiling and telling stories of our day apart. At 17, he is a joy to be with, and he opens up to me often but stays within the privacy confines of the deep friendships he shares with others. Of this, I am proud.
Senseless violence did not visit us at all yesterday on our journeys. A person reared and saturated in hate did not keep us from living our lives. Of renting suits, meeting new people, making deposits, planning dinner, finishing homework or reading our books.
I never want to have violence touch my family as it touched that of Mindy, a woman I shared a cocktail with the year she won a local small business award. I never want bullets to end my father’s life as Mindy’s ended. I never want to wonder why my son is lifeless beside the open door of a car as Mindy did.
I want to believe that if a hater comes to end my life or the lives of those I love, it will be like the distant past – like “Game of Thrones”. I want to believe that I will see them coming. I want to taste their hatred on the wind, and I want them to smell my fear. In other words, I want no guns involved. I believe that when the words a weak person lives by are too strong and hateful, that person can hide behind the power inherent in a gun. I want to believe that I will have the opportunity to physically fight for all that is right when I am attacked by all that is wrong.
“Games of Thrones” is a fantasy, and I know that. I abhor violence deeply. It makes me nauseous and unable to watch it on small or big screen. I cover my eyes, cower, and wait for it to end.
I refuse to live in fear. I will continue to drive down roads with my son in the sunshine. I will continue to fight for justice and equality. I will continue to work for a world where mental illness is taken seriously and doctored accordingly.
I will not cover my eyes, except to weep for a woman who has lost so much at the hands of a hater. I will learn from her and do as she asked us all: I will live.
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Well said, Sloane!
well said
Your blogs are inspiring and so so tender to read. What I marvel at the most is your unwavering and sometimes so smoochingly open and romantic love for your son, your husband, your sister, your mom, your dad, your friends, your business, your causes — your life. I love love — and I love when people are so full of love that it comes, sometimes, seeping out and sometimes pouring out. God is love. Love is God. The connections and love we have for each other are the very same. Thank you for sharing your life and loves with the world. I always feel better after reading your writing. thank you.
ps: i love you, too. <3 aaa
April:
Thank you for reading my blog that I share with my sister. Some days are harder than others, as you know. However, I love my life and all her people.
Abundantly glad you are “my people”.
xoxox
– sloane
You are so articulate and clear and right. I am the same about violence and covering my eyes at movies or burying my face. I agree too that your friend was robbed and even when the new feelings/ sentiment are raw she is able to learn and hold her head high. Truly inspiring. I could only hope to be that gracious. I have thought about the community and the loss, it is heart-wrenching. We all can learn from this. Peace and forgiveness run deep.
Rachelle:
Thank you for reading our blog. Your comments are sweet and I appreciate the kind words and praise.
Senseless. I just can’t get away from that word.
All my best.
– sloane
Beautiful piece of writing.
Janel:
Thank you for reading our blog. And for commenting. Your comment was very kind and I appreciate it.
Have a great rest of the week and enjoy the sunshine … wherever you go.
– sloane