Today Vicki linked to a story I wrote entitled “The BBC.” The story is a satirical look at tragedy in our world today. With the events that occured at Virginia Tech yesterday, and the news that the shooter was a Creative Writing student at the University, I’m putting up the story again for all to read.
My hope is that the story’s absurdity makes you laugh a little bit today, as well as think about the nature of such events. My thoughts are with the entire VT extended family.
Thank you.
I had read it before, but I read it again, just because it’s a good read. And I did laugh. My in-laws were married on September 11, and we were glad, sort of, that they didn’t live to see 9/11.
Such a terrible thing at VT. How can people do such things?
Great story!
My anniversary was yesterday….and the first WTC bombing was on my birthday….ugh. I guess I get in too?
Great story! My fiance’s family could have a club all by themselves– Fiance: Nixon Resigned, SIL: 9/11 (her 21st in 2001), BIL: Hindenberg FIL: Nagasaki
It’s awful that there’s another bad birthday to add to the list.
I’ve never understood why when someone decides to end it they have to take out as many innocents as they can. Thank you for sharing your story.
Loved your story. I just checked and I had forgotten I could be Cobain. Very sad, I hoped there would be nothing.
I was just thinking today how in a moment another word has been added to our vocabulary. Another Columbine…another Virginia Tech…
And while I want to honor the people involved today, I don’t know that I can bear the sadness of knowing details about them. Like when I hear on the radio details of the week’s deaths in the war, more than just 5 dead, I hear, someone’s brother, someone’s husband, someone’s mother, someone’s son. He/she loved to run, kayak, garden, cook, play football, read….
Seeing pictures of the students and teachers just tears into my heart. And now we’ve got another day to add to the BBC. Sigh. Big sigh.
particularly moving for me – the oklahoma city bombing occurred on my 22nd birthday.
i find it stunning to think how many tragedies have touched us over time – and to wonder how many more will follow.
on the flip side, life does go on in the wake of tragedy. and i am reminded, again, to count my blessings.
Well from one pant peer to another….haha (In reference to your next blog) I just wanted to say that knitting may not cure all, but it helps get us through some trying times… I have found there’s nothing better than the feel of yarn and the counting of stitches to get my thoughts together during times like this. Thoughts and prayers to families in Virginia. Peace to all
I’d never read that before, Cara. Thanks for posting the link, it was very moving. I still can’t believe there are people in the world who do things like what happened yesterday. It just fills me with such sadness. I hope eventually we’ll learn from events like these and figure out how to prevent them from happening again.
Hi Cara, what a good story, I really enjoyed reading it. I’m far removed from the events in America but I can see that people have been affected very deeply by the VT shooting. I thought you might like to hear that when I moved from the US to Australia I went from a Good Birthday (11/11 – always got the day off school) to a Bad Birthday (two famously negative events happened here on 11/11, separated by more than a century). But at least as some consoloation there is a song written about the 2 events by one of my favourite Aussie bands, with the repeated chorus of “November 11!” (which, yes, I sing at the top of my lungs every year.)
Amazing story — what an idea. And it clearly resonates with lots of people (per prev. comments). Thanks for the angled perspective at this terrible time.
Great story – and 14 Hills? San Francisco State. I was a Mills MFA. Funny thing.
i’ve been reading your blog for months now and your recent post regarding manners on blogging made me want to stand up and cheer.
this is what i would like to say: you are a formidable woman. in every way that’s positive. i am so happy to see your photos and read whatever you have to write and i think it’s wonderful that you will admit to sitting on a couch and knitting mitres for an entire weekend while foregoing showers.
in fact, your mania for blankets made me get up off my own ass and decide to make one of my own. no mitres here, but reading your progress made me realize even little ol’ me could also make a blanket. thanks so much for the inspiration!
Thanks for this story. Gave me lots to consider.
A great story… even when a date is “not auspicious”, I love celebrating birthdays and anniversaries ans such, but tragedies need to remembered. Thanks.
Liked your story. It was only when I was reading the comments that I checked Wikipedia to see if I was eligible for the BBC club. Options that appeal include the fall of Constantinopole (1203) or the Battle of Castillion (1453). Or for those who are more interested in modern history, TWA800.
Knitting helps, though.
I enjoyed the story for the second time and I too went and checked out my date – Messina, Sicily Earthquake – 75,000 killed!!! But then I thought, the really “BB days” are the senseless ones, the ones “created” by humans. I was at the zoo yesterday with my grandson and they had a display asking what the most dangerous animal was – and sad to say, in so many, many ways it’s us! There are so many confused, hurting people around us . . . thanks again for sharing all you do – lots of beauty in the world too!
Me, Ernest Hemingway.
And while I’m sad for what happened. For me luckily, it was just another day.
Every day is a triumph or tragedy for someone in the world.