Given that I tend to enjoy skiing apart from my more advanced family and friends, I spent a fair amount of time over our recent vacation riding chair lifts and grabbing lunch alongside strangers. Consequently, I was asked numerous times where I lived. The following are the initial replies I received after answering the question:
- I’m so sorry. (Three times)
- Oh my God!! (Once)
- Oh no. (Twice)
You see, I live in Newtown, CT. That was all that needed to be said.
On the last of our five days, a friend and fellow Newtowner traveling with us overheard me respond to an affable fellow in the lodge with a different answer. This time I simply replied that I was from Connecticut.
By that point in the trip I had had enough of the inevitable comments and follow-up questions. “Did you know anyone? “What is it like there now?” ”This must be so hard.”
A group of us had come to Vermont to “breathe” for a few days and a number of “head clearing” lift rides and calming cups of hot chocolate had already been tainted by difficult conversation with inquiring strangers.
Later, at the house we were sharing, my friend remarked that he had mixed feelings when he heard me omit the name of our town. While understanding my choice at the moment, he feared our becoming timid over this atrocity. While not wanting to wear it as a badge, he nonetheless wished to embrace our special town regardless of the resulting reactions.
He’s right, of course; for many reasons but primarily for this:
Since December 14th, something extraordinary, something distinctive, something long lasting has begun to emerge from this heartbreak. While we Newtowners may always be well-known for this event, I suspect we will also come to be recognized as the months and years progress for something much more. It’s in the air. People are banding together with open minds and open hearts. They are generating ideas, expressing conviction and turning feelings into action.
Maybe the dialogue on the slopes, in the lodges, all over the country will someday go something like this:
“Where are you from?”
“Newtown, CT.”
“Cool. It’s pretty impressive what was accomplished after that shooting. Your town is an inspiration.”
I am 23 and a Sandy Hook resident of 10 years. Me, and all of my siblings have been and are participents in Newtown sports. And, as would be expected, my family owns an entire truck-load of "Newtown attire". The majority of my family (excluding myself) went on holiday to Florida for the Xmas-New Years holiday. Most were wearing Newtown sports attire, as they always do... Upon pick up in New Haven today, many of the stories had to do with sympathetic condolances from strangers having heard of my family's hometown. I myself have had thoughts about such a tradgedy being a "black dot"... but in the end... I think Newtown will be better than ever
Same here I live in Newtown CT and I work with clients on the phone 4-6 times a day a common question always is: to break the silence where are you from! I cant get into my work calls without having the same questions proposed to me, I use the CT as well.
Obviously it's hardly the biggest problem anyone is facing; but still, it's a weird experience.
As I asked the children who were in the school and had survived the shooting to draw their feelings and worries their responses were priceless and revealing ~ their intense empathy and bold frankness despite their fears. The experience is one that I will always Treasure ! The caliber of adults and children I saw were stellar ! Even though I now have a practice an hour away, I eagerly look forward to volunteering in Sandy Hook as the days pass by and the realities sink in. A privilege Andrea
Our days of innocence and anonymity are over.