My heart cries for the losses at VT. I watch the images of the wounded being carried out and see the pictures of the slain and my heart aches. I cry for the parents who have to bury their children....something no parent should ever have to do. I see the face of the shooter, twisted in hate and I want to hurt him. I hear the endless debate and accusations and one thing is clear in my mind...If someone wants something bad enough and is willing to pay the price it is almost impossible to stop them.

Having said that, I want to ask "Why did so few of the victims try to fight back"? I know what panic can do to your reasoning...I've been there a time or two when I was lost in the woods. Yes, run to escape if escape is possible...hide if there is somewhere to hide...but if escaping and hiding aren't possible and you know you most likely aren't going to survive...then go out fighting. There had to have been times while he was reloading or switching weapons that he could have been rushed. When I taught self-defense in my Karate classes, I tried to make my students understand that self-defense was a state of mind.

You have to have the right mind set to fight back against those who would do you harm. Contrary Goddess said it in her latest post "Pacifism magnifies violence".

I say to those who killed the bill to give students and employees the legal right to carry handguns on campus, What if just one person had had a handgun there on scene during his rampage? How proud now are you of your actions to make everyone on campus FEEL safe?

For CG...I Was Confused

I was confusing Deloise Stanley with Lois Winebarger. Her brother Allen Wayne was killed in a hunting accident when he was in the 4th grade. Lois was always very quiet and shy, never causing any problems and always had that little shy smile on her face.

Scenes from Guest River Rally 2006

Dog Show

Almost adopted this black Lab pup but girl beat me to it by about 10 seconds.

Bike Patrol

Contrary Goddess and friend checking out Eleutheros' instruments

For CG

Standing l to r...F. McCoy(principal), B.J. Blevins, J. Price, D. Kern, L. Fleenor, R. Carico, and M. Vance?.
Seated l to r...Louella ? (librarian...can.t remember her last name), R. Hamn, C. Addington, R. Judd, E. Kilgore, ???, and F. Stapleton.

CG said "Gosh we're old".

H. Stallard said "Speak for yourself, I don't get old, I just grow older".

I just noticed that your 4th grade teacher isn't in this group. She's the one who got me in hot water with her innuendoes and just plain lies.

Can you spot me my first year of teaching in 1968/69

Can you spot The Contrary Goddess in 1968/69?
Click on the picture for a better view.