A little over 24 hours ago my world stood still and I don't know when it's going to start moving again. What began as an idle Thursday summer evening of Candy Crush and television, quickly transformed itself into a mind numbing event. What you often try to rationalize as unthinkable, became the thinkable. There was an active shooter in the movie theater I often frequent, as recently as a few days ago, causing destruction on my city.
I haven't always thought of Lafayette as my city, because it's not my city by birth, or even circumstance. It's my city by choice. I chose to go the the University of Louisiana and live my college years as a Ragin' Cajun. I chose to stay in the Lafayette area and become a teacher to help shape the community. I chose to embrace the culture, that I haven't always felt like I fit into, and make it my own. As the years have come and gone, I have chosen to make Lafayette my home, enjoy all that it has to offer, and even have eaten some boudin along the way.
However, it wasn't until last nights events that I truly realized that Lafayette is my city. That is is my home. I found myself not being able to put down the phone or turn off the television, because the people of my city were hurt. And they will be hurting for a long time to come.
Tragedies like this will never make any sense, if that was the case we would perhaps call them something different. But, my take away from this is the unfriendly reminder to tell the people you love that you love them, don't go to bed angry, let go of the small stuff, and never take a single moment for granted. Perhaps as the days come and go, our hearts will begin to get a little less heavier. However, one of the things that I have always loved about the place that I call home, is that it is truly a place that knows how to Live....Love....Laf.....
