|
|
|
|
The ties that
bind are stronger than ever |
|
 As
crowds gathered in silence around War memorials across West Cumbria
it marked the beginning of a long journey of recovery for our
shattered communities. In just a few hours on the 2nd June one man
caused more devastation to our lives than any of us thought
possible, and for those of us locked in our homes we had the surreal
experience of watching those horrific events happening on our
doorsteps, unfold and be played out live on TV.
The feeling of utter panic that ran through families and friends
desperately trying to contact and warn one another will stay with us
for a long time. For many people the reality of what had happened
did not hit them until they were safe to leave their homes and they
were faced with the carnage left by Derrick Bird. Bodies lay with
only modest sheets covering them. These are things we see in films,
not in our quiet, safe little towns.
The national press has made a big point of how close knit we are -
obviously an alien concept to some other parts of the Country - but
it is true, we are. You can’t hurt one person round here without
hurting many more.
They say you can connect any two people from anywhere in the world
by six degrees of separation. Well in our communities you can drop
that number to one, two at the most. We share each other’s grief and
we mourn for the faces that we knew in the street that will no
longer be there.
Counselling was offered to children returning to school after the
half term break and GPs’ surgeries are ready to make referrals for
those that feel overwhelmed by the shootings. For some that will be
a vital service, but for most people the only healer needed will be
time.
Our safe little community has had its security breached and we are
all feeling the effects of that. It’s important to recognise that
these feelings are normal. We all feel the same - jumping at sounds,
holding our breath when we hear a siren. Something has changed.
These are the same thoughts passed on to us by so many different
people. How lucky we are to live in an area where violent crimes are
virtually unheard of! One man changed that for one day with horrific
effects, but it’s important to realise we are still living in a safe
community, however shocked and vulnerable those events have made us
feel.
The road to recovery for all of us will be a long one. For those
who lost loved ones life will never be the same, but as a community
we are there to support each other through these dark times. The
ties that bind us are now stronger than ever.
See also - Close
Encounters and In Memory in this issue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
