April 23, 2007

• Virginia Tech – One Week Later – And Onward

  

  

  From: Bine
  Date: Apr 23, 2007 4:51 PM
  Subject: Monday
  To: Carey, Eva, Carolina
  

   

  I arrived safely here in Blacksburg. After dropping my backpack off I went to see Lindsay and we talked until 3 am, which was really good. So I was a bit better prepared for campus today. my bike ride into school was easier than I had thought, but it took me a while to enter my office building. And it is amazing, our floor is full with cards from school-kids throughout the country, some are even from Portland, Oregon!
  At 9:45 this morning we all went to the drill field for a moment of silence. Very powerful. The media was asked not to take pictures and to leave campus sooner than later and as far as I know, most of them have left. This makes it all a bit more normal. Yet there is still a lot of police around, even FBI is still investigating…which is actually hilarious as those guys really look like out of a movie…gee!
  
  My advisor came to my office today, tears in his eyes, gave me a hug and told me that he was so happy, that it didn’t happen on Tuesday. We sat in my lab for quite some time and talked about all the good people we have lost and exchanged stories. After that I felt better about being back. And now I am actually glad, not only because Alan is arriving here soon, but because we actually had the chance to do something. One professor had sent out an e-mail today:
  
  EWR Grad students,
   
  I’m trying to get volunteers to help two of our own survivors, Lee
  & Nathaniel.  Lee & Maria just bought a house, but haven’t been
  able to move in yet because they wanted to paint the walls and get new
  carpet first.  Nathaniel will then be able to move in with Lee & Maria.
  I think it would be great if we can pitch in and help.
   
  If you can spare an hour or more, please stop by their house at 1100
  Golfview Drive later today.  Painting will start around 3:30 or 4.
  Thanks!!!
   
  Of course a bunch of us went there and helped painting and this was such a great feeling. Lee (btw, this is not my room mate Lee) told some stories about last week, which were hard to bear but helped him to get it out.
  
  True, we are far from a normal life here on campus. We still miss the ones we have lost, but it is actually helpful to be back. Also for the professors, they did an still do an amazing job trying to guide and help their students. Counselors were coming into every classroom today, to talk to the students. Professors stand in front of their classes, in tears, trying to give answers which they can’t but the interaction and the understanding of the students is a big help.

  
  There is also a lot of talk about the funerals. And all the stories are so positive. Southern baptist, Jews, Hindu are going together to a Muslim funeral. The only religion that combines everybody at this very moment and this very place is love and grief.
  
  I showed/forwarded Carey’s blog to a lot of people here and they really appreciated what you have done.
  
  I again want to thank you guys for being such wonderful friends!
  
  I love you so much and I appreciate our little family! I  feel very lucky

   

  love,

  
  Bine

  ---

  And now, because I want to put something on this website for the first time in a week that will make people smile instead of cry; I present to you my cousin’s new dog:

  Drum roll please

  

  Ah, the innocence of children and puppy dogs!  Let the healing begin.

   

  Andy & Roxy

  

  Tommy & Roxy

  

  Tressa & Roxy

  

  

  

   Welcome to the family Roxy!

  • 11:54 pm
  • 11 Comments