silent night

The past few months have been difficult. I've been dealing with things both personally and professionally that I am not yet comfortable writing about. I know I am not alone in feeling that sometimes life is hard.

And as the past week has exemplified, sometimes life is downright brutal.

My problems are nothing compared to what those in Connecticut are bearing right now. My problems are not even worth mentioning compared to losing a child.

I did not know anyone personally involved in the massacre in Newtown. I am not a parent; I don't know what it's like to have, much less lose, a child of my own. And yet this tragedy feels so personal. What happened at that elementary school last week is a crime against all of us as Americans and as humans. Anyone who is reading this was six once. And seven, and eight and nine. And those children will never have the chance to be seven or eight or nine.

I'm not going to attempt to write a poignant and touching essay about Sandy Hook - many others have done this better than I ever could. But I will take some time to pause and reflect, to figure things out and to focus on what's important. I've been quiet this past week and I will continue to be so. I'll be back, yes, maybe in a few days, maybe in a few weeks, but right now I can't keep blogging about fucking craft projects when twenty families in Connecticut lost their babies and six more lost their mothers/wives/daughters/sisters. I apologize for the abrupt end to Handmade Holiday, but it just isn't important to me right now.

I've read that some people are avoiding the news and can't bear to look at the pictures of the Newtown victims. But I've memorized every one of those little faces. They deserve to be remembered.

I don't mean to get all dark and dramatic, but the world is a tough place and I am feeling that acutely right now. I need a little break, and so, I am taking it. A philosopher once said "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." How true this is.

May peace be with you.

Update: Thanks for your concern, friends. I am fine and I didn't mean for this post to be so depressing/alarming. I'm just feeling a little stressed and need some time to relax and focus on what's important, set priorities, and snuggle with my family over the holidays. :)