Mood: I don’t quite know… good, but… tired, but thankful, but…
Audio: something on this classic movie channel

It’s been awhile since I’ve written any journal entry in any of the journal-blogs I have.

Yesterday I got up early in the morning, after fitful sleep. I showered, dressed in my “journalist” suit, black slacks and matching blazer that fits a lot of occasions depending on what shell I wear… yesterday, I wasn’t very chic… I wore a red thermal shirt and a black button-down with slim turquoise, white and green stripes and ¾ length sleeves. It suited my purpose.

I started the 4 hour drive to Blacksburg, Va. a little before six a.m. I knew it would be a long haul. I didn’t know if I was up to it, but I felt it was something I had to do.

Didn’t run into very much traffic, because all the normal people were still asleep, or at least they hadn’t left their homes yet.

Drove the beltway, to I-66 and watched the sun rise in Virginia.

That is a beautiful state… But there is something that is haunting about that state to me… As an African-American, Virginia wasn’t always the best place for my people to reside. I don’t know about today, but knowing the history of Virginia… It’s yet another one of those places where I wonder “how many of my innocent people swung from these trees?” Makes me wonder why I am in Maryland, another state with ugly slave roots. Annapolis not too far away… Annapolis, a port where plenty of my people unwillingly made their debut on these shores…

But I digress, this entry isn’t about slavery. It’s about honoring those who were massacred last year at Virginia Tech.

I arrived on campus right before the ceremony started. It was a clear sunny day… the beauty in contrast to the ugly reality behind the reason thousands gathered on Drillfield.


I got my media credential, parked my car in the designated lot and walked to Drillfield. It was a nice stroll. It was the strangest thing… a university campus that seemed like a ghost town. There was no school yesterday, no classes held.

When I got to Drillfield, there was a noticeable contrast between the field’s green grass and the burgundy shirts, many which had affirming slogans on the back such as
“We are Virginia Tech.”


For all the thousands gathered on that field, I have never, ever heard so much silence from so many people. I could hear the birds tweet, I noticed no side conversations… There was only one lady I saw who was talking on her cell phone as she walked away from the main crowd… And she seemed out of place.



Sitting or standing, in groups or alone, there was quiet while the names of the dead were read…


The only exception was the panting of a nearby pet that some brought with them… or sobs from a young lady I assumed lost a friend.

As a reporter, I almost felt like a thief… Like I was stealing their sorrow to peddle to the world.
I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I didn’t want to disturb their grief, didn’t want to intrude… But as a reporter, I know I had a job to do… to capture the mourner’s sorrow in words, in pictures, in video, in reports to share with the world, so that others can empathize, sympathize, any kind of positive –ize where growth can occur as a result of experiencing the sorrow of the bereaved, even if those viewing the reports are on the other side of the world. That’s my job, that’s what I do. No one can prevent sorrow, but in the case of Virginia Tech, sharing reports of that sorrow can act as an impetus to prevent something like this from happening again.



I just wish it never happened in the first place.

And as the crowd dispersed, I can’t describe the environment in words except…
Surreally solemn.

One thing I didn’t notice: aggressive reporters.

After the ceremony, my classmate and I went to the media center to do a quick write-up of the story, edit audio. I chose photos and put together a slideshow.

I think it worked out and captured the emotion of the day.

Yesterday started early and ended late.
My classmate’s sister was kind enough to let me crash at her place for an hour before the drive home. I was so tired!
I got home around 10-ish… and flopped on the couch!
The drive home wasn’t bad. Delilah kept me company on the radio, she and some Virginia country stations.

The hills were beautiful against the sunset. Along with silos, red barns and grazing cows.

It seemed so peaceful… the antithesis of Tech, one year ago.