[Rio_]

This Thursday will be the first anniversary I've had away from home. I have no idea what it'll be like...it's going to be strange, I think, being the only one who knows the significance of the date. (Well, actually it's significant for the whole of my business class, because we have a test that day...the last one was Valentine's Day, they really time them well. ) Maybe that'll be easier, I don't know.

But it's got me thinking - at the end of this year, the year affected will be leaving school...after that, will anyone care any more? Do the children at primary school at the moment know that they're going to a place where, 12 years ago, 16 kids about their age and their teacher were shot and killed? Some of them will probably have older brothers and sisters, so might know, but other than that...I wouldn't blame the teachers for not saying anything. Ignorance is bliss, after all. I wish I didn't know, and I wish I didn't think about it in some way pretty much every day, but at the same time, I don't want it forgotten. I know I'm not the only one who remembers - those kids had family, after all - but at the same time, most people seem to be doing a pretty good job of forgetting. And while I sense that my logic may well be flawed, as much as I want to forget I can't help thinking - if I don't remember, then who will?

[Perna]

You will always remember but you do not always have to be traumatized by the remembering.

All loss hurts us and has to be worked through. But life continues. I doubt very seriously that many of the children in the school today have been specifically told.

Is there any marker or monument at the school, a "garden" or anything?

http://www.auburn.wednet.edu/homepag...ialgarden.html

http://www.childrensmemorialandgarden.org/index.asp

If there isn't something, maybe you could start a little process going where one is created? Doesn't have to be a garden like the above, but could be just a bronze plaque or little statue of a child playing.

Maybe working on something like that would soothe you some? Help you remember and grieve with the others who care and who there must be, as you say.

[Rio_]

Thanks, Perna. That's true.

There is a garden where the old gym used to be, and a plaque with their names...used to be that some people in my year (and probably the year below, too) would go down from high school to the primary school at anniversaries to put flowers by it. Guess that won't be happening any more.