May 2011 get better . . .
Jan. 2nd, 2011 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakw1/1/11 looks like a pretty cool date when you write it out like that.
And mine wasn't too bad. Nothing spectacular, but spent well enough, until I heard this news:
Deputy, Gunman Killed In Shootout
Ohio Seriff: Deputy, Suspect Killed in Standoff
Deputy responded to reports of shots fired
Geo had been following the news yesterday, and in the evening, it was reported that one of the officers shot had died, and he told me about her (age, children, etc.). I asked what her name was, and he told me Suzanne Hopper.
I said, "I don't remember anyone by that name . . . " I tried to think of whether or not I knew anyone named Suzanne who might have been a sheriff's deputy.
And then it struck me. Shocked, hand over my mouth, I said, "Yes. Yes, I do." And when I asked if there was a picture of her, Geo showed me, and I couldn't help but cry.
You see, I was in school with Suzanne. Her maiden name doesn't ring a bell for some reason. (ETA: I knew her as Suzanne Bauer. Waughtel and Hopper are both married names. /ETA) We weren't particularly close. We didn't run in the same circles. She was two years behind me. But she was the neighbor of one of my best friends, iirc. And what I do remember of her, she was a very nice girl.
My brother remembers being in marching band with her.
The last time I saw her, I was working at the PAC, and she was a sheriff's deputy assisting with a D.A.R.E. concert. I think it was actually spring 2007, my last D.A.R.E. concert there. I could be mistaken about the year, but I can see her so clearly, chatting with me in the green room, in uniform, and how surprised I was to see her there.
I don't usually ask specifically that you read articles that I post. I post them in hopes that you might find them interesting, but whether or not you choose to read them is up to you. But today I'm going to ask that you please, do read them. I didn't know Suzanne well (and to me, she was never Deputy Waughtel or Deputy Hopper, she was Suzanne), but this has upset me quite a bit.
I'm also in the very bad habit of reading user comments to news articles. I know I shouldn't. A large percentage of commenters mouth off with idiotic comments without ever knowing the people involved or the whole story. It makes me ill.
For those of you who pray, please pray that 2011 starts looking up. And say a prayer for Suzanne's family. For those of you who don't pray, please hum along.
ETA: It even made the Culpeper Star-Exponent. Sunday update on shooting
Video report from home.
And mine wasn't too bad. Nothing spectacular, but spent well enough, until I heard this news:
Deputy, Gunman Killed In Shootout
Ohio Seriff: Deputy, Suspect Killed in Standoff
Deputy responded to reports of shots fired
Geo had been following the news yesterday, and in the evening, it was reported that one of the officers shot had died, and he told me about her (age, children, etc.). I asked what her name was, and he told me Suzanne Hopper.
I said, "I don't remember anyone by that name . . . " I tried to think of whether or not I knew anyone named Suzanne who might have been a sheriff's deputy.
And then it struck me. Shocked, hand over my mouth, I said, "Yes. Yes, I do." And when I asked if there was a picture of her, Geo showed me, and I couldn't help but cry.
You see, I was in school with Suzanne. Her maiden name doesn't ring a bell for some reason. (ETA: I knew her as Suzanne Bauer. Waughtel and Hopper are both married names. /ETA) We weren't particularly close. We didn't run in the same circles. She was two years behind me. But she was the neighbor of one of my best friends, iirc. And what I do remember of her, she was a very nice girl.
My brother remembers being in marching band with her.
The last time I saw her, I was working at the PAC, and she was a sheriff's deputy assisting with a D.A.R.E. concert. I think it was actually spring 2007, my last D.A.R.E. concert there. I could be mistaken about the year, but I can see her so clearly, chatting with me in the green room, in uniform, and how surprised I was to see her there.
I don't usually ask specifically that you read articles that I post. I post them in hopes that you might find them interesting, but whether or not you choose to read them is up to you. But today I'm going to ask that you please, do read them. I didn't know Suzanne well (and to me, she was never Deputy Waughtel or Deputy Hopper, she was Suzanne), but this has upset me quite a bit.
I'm also in the very bad habit of reading user comments to news articles. I know I shouldn't. A large percentage of commenters mouth off with idiotic comments without ever knowing the people involved or the whole story. It makes me ill.
For those of you who pray, please pray that 2011 starts looking up. And say a prayer for Suzanne's family. For those of you who don't pray, please hum along.
ETA: It even made the Culpeper Star-Exponent. Sunday update on shooting
Video report from home.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-01-02 03:44 pm (UTC)There's so much sadness in the world. Reminds you to cling on to whatever happiness you have in your life. Live each day to the fullest - something I acknowledge I don't always do but will strive for in 2011.
The comments? *headdesk* I will NEVER understand self righteous people who match their agenda to every circumstance.
*hugs you hard*
no subject
Date: 2011-01-03 01:10 am (UTC)One of the things that upsets me most about the situation is that Suzanne wasn't even doing anything dangerous when she got shot. She was taking pictures of possible evidence. She wasn't in a high-speed chase, she wasn't trying to apprehend a suspect, she wasn't even in the shootout. All of those I could understand. This--the way they describe it--was just cold-blooded murder.
As far as the comments go, a lot of them are sympathetic and convey condolences, but there's so much hatred on the internet I'm seriously tempted to turn my back on it.
Then I remember my f-list and how cool y'all are.
Here's hoping 2011 goes nowhere but up.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-02 05:16 pm (UTC)I can't read comments - I swear, people use the Internet to say things they would never say to people's faces or in a public place (the idiots on AOL saying they were glad a cop died wouldn't dare say that in some of the bars around here without starting a fight) because they delight in causing pain and chaos.
Or blame the President - how could he be responsible?
no subject
Date: 2011-01-03 01:49 am (UTC)That should be my New Year's resolution, to not read user comment to news stories anymore.
It's like if you're on the internet, you don't have to remember that you're talking about real people with actual families and stuff. Thank goodness for the supportive posts of condolence.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-02 07:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-03 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-03 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-03 03:42 pm (UTC)