American in Norway

I woke with a heavy heart this morning... I have had a heavy heart since the shootings on Friday... but I have tried to shake it & get on with life.. whilst trying to be just a wee bit kinder.. understanding.. patient.. But this morning as I rolled over and made the mistake of checking Facebook... (yes.. I am that horrible person with a smartphone on my nightstand) it just CLICKED for me... The horror of the shootings at Sandy Hook on Friday is horrible... what is also horrible is the fighting going on FACEBOOK  back and forth..back and forth... guns.. no guns.. guns.. no guns... My very wise 13 year old asked over dinner this evening.... "why are they fighting over gun control in the US? - shouldn't they be thinking about the victims of this horrible tragedy right now?" "Yes.. my darling.. they should. .- they should be thinking of the victims.. and how we can all do something to make the world just a little bit better place....

Today was my first day back in the city.... it was surreal... I wasn't sure what to expect...  but found out quickly that my normal parking garage was closed because it is so close to the court house... Today Anders Behring Breivik had his first court hearing... I watched out of my office window, looking at all of the reporters waiting for him It just felt like a HEAVY day...ya know? Waiting for the mass murderer to drive down the street... and the non stop rain... Made for a very long afternoon. When I left the office I was exhausted...WORN OUT... these past couple of days as been a lot...on EVERYONE... Before picking up my car.. I decided to walk down to the church.... There were make shift shrines EVERYWHERE... I have never seen so many people on the streets of Oslo.... in the rain... No one talking... just reflecting... I am glad I took the walk before heading home...  there was a sense of solidarity... This afternoon not only Norway... but Scandinavia sto...

SHOCK...DISBELIEF.... How could something like this happen here in tiny little PEACEFUL Norway? We (I) were/was wrong yesterday.... this wasn't Norway's 9/11... But Norway's own Oklahoma City.... AND Columbine all at once.  Facebook & the rest of the net was going crazy with people hoping that it couldn't be true... The bombing /massacre in Norway yesterday was by a home grown CRAZY... I think most of Norway will be glued to our TV's today...praying that they find more children on a neighboring island... that maybe they did indeed..swim to safety & are just waiting to be picked up.. My heart is breaking for everyone who has been touched by this tragedy... My heart is breaking for Norway & Norwegian Society. What will happen to this man... who as I understand it... went with police... without further drama. My first reaction was that there is no punishment which could fit what Anders Behring Breivik has done. I'll admit the Ol'Texas Girl i...