Anywhere But Here

Newtown and Sandy Hook are small towns separated only by Interstate 84. Where one town ends and the other begins is indiscernible; they are very much one community. It is the kind of community depicted on toy train displays next to Christmas trees at a local volunteer firehouse. They are the kinds of towns that inspire movies like "It's a Wonderful Life," and Norman Rockwell paintings. They are the kind of towns where everyone knows each other and looks out for one another. This is the kind of community that people seek out to raise their children in. You will not find Wal-Mart or Target here. Instead there is a "General" store. No Toys R Us either. Instead there is "The Toy Tree," a local toy store whose Christmas business was devastated when media trucks overtook the town and blocked the storefront as well as cutting off parking around the store. There is an American flag that flies prominently in the middle of Main St. in Newtown against the backdrop of a rustic church that displays a sign in front that reads "Newtown Meeting House 1793." One can only imagine the things that have been prayed for in that building for over 200 years. And what is prayed for inside there on this Christmas day. The Newtown Bee, the local newspaper is housed in a quaint one story red cottage with an antique town clock on the sidewalk in front of it. Sandy Hook has a beautiful river that runs right through the middle of town. The river is now the backdrop of one of the many impromptu memorials of signs, teddy bears, ornaments and other thoughtful items left to remember the victims.

Newtown General Store

Main St. Newtown

The Newtown Bee

The Toy Tree (Sandy Hook)

"Downtown" Sandy Hook

It is easy to discern the local residents from the many out of town people like us who have come to pay respects. The out of towner's have mournful faces filled with sadness. The local people have vacant stares with looks of disbelief, shock and horror. They move slowly along the memorials as if on autopilot. There were several small children crying and being consoled by parents. Most likely schoolmates of the victims. How could someone steal the innocence of these children? How can we ever imagine our six year old spending Christmas this way? There is a palpable quiet in the town. It is haunting. There is an endless line of people visiting the makeshift monuments, but no one speaks.    At the main four way intersection in town there are four police officers directing traffic. But even the traffic is eerily calm. The motorists move very slowly and quietly so as not to disturb what is going on and the officers also very stoic and quiet make sure pedestrians are able to safely cross from one side of the street to the other and continue viewing the seemingly endless line of mementos piled in honor of the victims. 

For me, besides the loss of 26 innocent lives, the cruelest thing to come from this is that such a quiet, peaceful town will forever be linked with such a horrendous event. The last place on earth you would ever expect this to happen.

My next entry will address our interaction with the first responders. Thank you for following us and for being a part of this.