Cleveland Horror

On Monday, May 6, three women were rescued from 10 years in captivity in a house in Cleveland.  Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight were kidnapped by Ariel Castro in the 2000s, kept in the basement and later in separate rooms in the house, tied up and chained.

He raped them, impregnated them, starved and punched them to force miscarriages, for all but one child from one of the women, Amanda Berry.

He's on suicide watch.  I have mixed feelings.  He deserves the death penalty but suicide seems an easy way out for him.  Perhaps life in prison where he'll most likely be murdered?

I don't think it's right to wish him death, but I can't help but think of the 10 years, MORE than 10 years, these girls and their families have been suffering.  His obvious mental illness is no excuse for what he did.  It might explain it, but it doesn't excuse it.

And his two brothers, in and out of that house all the time over the past ten years?  They knew nothing?  So far police have released them and not charged them.  And his mom, living two blocks away?  Really?  No idea?

THIS is why I always want to know my sisters or my mom or my daughter or my son or my husband is home safe, at school safe, wherever they are.  THIS is why I have no problem "checking in" with my mom so she knows I'm home, safe and sound.  THIS really could happen to just about anyone, anytime, anywhere.  There are a lot of crazy people in this world, just walking around, appearing normal...

Better Late Than Never...

Just wanted to make mention of the rescue of those 33 Chilean miners who were trapped in a mine for 69 days.

What a pleasure it was to watch a 24-hour news show that was positive and had a happy ending.  I teared up every time a miner was reunited with his wife, mom, son, mistress...  Even if that caused some stress and strain between family members, he was rescued, people!  It was a happy day in the Chilean neighborhood!!!

I think the news media should remember that all news isn't bad news.  Perhaps we all need a few more happy endings to watch on television, rather than all the blood and gore and murders and rapes and thefts and lies...

Horrors in Haiti

I don't know what to do.

I've donated money. I've brought foodstuffs in to church where they're collecting canned goods to send to those poor people.

It's not enough.

It's days like this that I sometimes wish I was a go-getter, someone who would really get off her butt and do something.

My heart bleeds for these people. I cry as I watch the news reports. I thank the Lord that none of my family is there, but at the same time I feel for those total strangers as if they were family.

When they find a survivor, a young child, or an older woman, I cheer, buoyed beyond belief that another person beat the odds. Could I live seven, eight days without food and water? I truly don't think so, so used am I to opening the cabinet and grabbing a diet Dr. Pepper and a breakfast bar whenever I feel like it (forget about "when I'm hungry").

We are truly spoiled, here in this great USofA.

I, for one, will try my best to appreciate what I have, do with a little less, and give a lot more.

THAT is one thing I can do in honor of those in Haiti.

Haiti

Please do whatever you can do to help those poor people in Haiti. I spent a few moments today at lunchtime watching some video on CNN.

I cried.

I made a donation to the Red Cross and my company is matching any of our documented donations as long as they're made by January 31. I'm so glad I work where I do.

If you pray, please pray for Haiti.

If you send good wishes or positive thoughts, please send them winging to Haiti.

If you believe in anything, please ask for help for Haiti.

I saw it after it happened...

My office is a cubicle but I'm at the windows and I face the Hudson River. I've spent the last three days in meetings and this afternoon, during our E-line and R-line meetings, we heard all the sirens.

We're in Hoboken. We hear sirens all the time. We really didn't think anything of it. I didn't hear a crash.

But when I got back to my desk, the plane had already crashed. It was somewhere up around the 50's, pretty much across from Jack's school if it were riverfront, maybe a bit higher, but the currents were so strong the plane was drifting south really quickly. I could almost make out the people standing on the wings, but I'm not sure if I really saw it or if I knew they were there 'cause we were watching it live on the computer.

We were plastered to the windows. People were running out onto Pier A, and uptown, onto Pier B, just to watch. By the time the plane drifted even closer, all the passengers and crew had been rescued.

Thank you, God. They couldn't have done it without you.

It was 18 degrees this morning, real feel 10 degrees with the wind chill. The Hudson River was really cold. I heard later 60 people were in the water. And aside from some rather minor injuries, considering, so far, at least, everyone is okay.

They said the pilot made a heroic and perfect landing under the circumstances. There were 2 pilots on board, according to the news.

I beg to differ. God was their co-pilot today. They couldn't have done it without Him.

We'll be glued to the news tonight, just to make sure that the people are all okay.

President Bush is speaking - I'm going to go and listen. Tomorrow I'm sending him a thank you note, if I can find an email address for him. He deserves it!