Another Freeking Mass Massacre

[tlynne]

hello lovely people of mock - I haven't been here in literally forever but I found myself back here last week. I don't really have a reason for posting today other than the fact that I live in Dayton just minutes from the Oregon District where the mass shooting happened less than 2 weeks ago. It's been a bit of a blur. I am finding myself totally obsessed with the details of this case. I don't know if it's because I frequent the area and work 2 blocks from where the shooting occurred or what. I have friends who know the shooter, know his parents, it just hit so close to home. Has anyone else in here ever been through something like this? I'm finding myself spacing out, unable to concentrate, totally obsessed with any information that comes out about the case, digging deep into the depths of the internet late into the night looking for I don't even know what. It's been such a weird couple of weeks. Our town & community is so strong but there is just this thick heaviness in the air every single day. I can't believe this is the world we live in.

Hi tlynne, don't know you at all but I know what it feels like to be bewildered. Many years ago My friend was shot right
in front of my eyes! He wasn't killed, but it looked like it at the time. It was very difficult to get over that trauma!
He is now semi-crippled, but he's alive.

Anyway, I was unable to sleep through the night for quite some time after that ordeal. It's only human.
I don't tell this story very often, and I really don't know why I am now, maybe it's because I was where you are now.
It will take some time, but it will get easier.

I mostly lurk around here, I would be surprised if anyone knew me lol. I used to be on much more frequently - I actually lived in Toledo when the Straub/Clarke murders happened and that's how I landed here but it's been a while since a case has hit so close to home I guess.

Anyway, I am so sorry you went through that. I can't even imagine what that must have put you through mentally/emotionally. I wasn't actually downtown when this happened, thank god, but we live so close there were sirens going off all night, disturbing video/photos surfacing online throughout the night which are gone now, so many of my friends/coworkers were down there, it feels like I was there in a sense, or should have been there. I don't really know. There's this really weird guilt thing that's been hanging over me ever since it happened. My mind is constantly elsewhere. Thanks for sharing your story. Strangely enough, the day or two after the shooting, a girl came to spend the day with me (we were loosely connected through work but had never actually met) who happened to be a Las Vegas Route 91 shooting survivor. It was strangely comforting being around/hugging/talking to someone who had been through a similar experience - albeit hers was much different, she was actually at the concert. I just can't even imagine. I really don't even know why I'm saying this. I guess talking anonymously to strangers on the internet is kind of therapeutic or something. I really appreciate you sharing your story. Thank you.