So … yeah. That.
To add to the excitement, Kay's band was on a field trip today up at Flatirons mall. And I was with them as chaperon.
So … just about the time we were scheduled to get back on the bus, word started coming through about the shootings at AHS. In fact I found out about it by a phone call from my mom, in California.
A number of the kids were really concerned, since they have friends and relatives at AHS. But the band teacher got a call informing her that Kay's middle school was on lockdown, which meant nobody could leave and nobody could enter.
Including us.
We hung out at the mall for a while, before word came that we were to get on the bus and travel back south to a retail center near (well, about 5 minutes from) the middle school.
Which we did. And waited. And waited.
One thing I found remarkable was that, with the number of smartphones and tablets on board — adults and kids — we were not at all lacking for updates of information, from tweets to IMs to phone calls (including reverse-911 calls from the district) to kids watching streaming video of the new coverage.
(I managed to run my battery down. Imagine that.)
We eventually got word that we could head back to the school, as students were beginning to be released to parents coming to pick them up. But half-way there we were contacted, again, and told to hold off because there were too many parents there, parking in the bus loading area, etc.
Rrg.
We parked next to a Wendy's, and the chaperons walked groups of kids in to use the facilities.
Eventually, they okayed us to come back and stop at the freight entrance (which was good, because we still had all the band equipment), and we did so, and since I was there I was able to nab the daughter and leave, a couple of hours later than originally planned.
It was interesting watching and listening to the reactions of the kids to what was going on. Besides the folks who were frightened over loved ones, there was also a lot of snap judgment that reminded me of the Internet ("well, at least the only one who should be dead is").
The band teacher commented that we chaperons probably regretted volunteering today. I didn't, I told her — if Kay was going to be on this particular trip, I'm glad I was able to be with her.
Reshared post from +The Bruce, Mile High
Oh no, not again
My manager just ran out the door because there's been another shooting reported here in Colorado — this one at the HS his son attends!
2 Injured In Colorado High School Shooting
At least two people were injured in a shooting at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo. on Friday. Police are calling this an active shooter situation as of 1 p.m., according to 9 News.
What a terrible experience. I'm glad you were with your daughter.
Oh, Dave, I thought of you and your family immediately, in that illogical way that the mind makes connections to a news story personal. Indeed, yikes.
Just glad you could be there with Kay and her friends.
Me, too, @Ginny — thanks.
Well, it was a … disturbing experience. Not terrible. We were never in harm's way, just inconvenienced in a way that drove home to us what had happened.
I meant terrible in the not knowing what was going on.
Well, that was mostly terrible for the folks who knew people at AHS, and they were in the same boat as people back home. What was remarkable to me is that we were pretty much synced up with all news sources, due to the smartphones on the bus.
OK. Sorry, with all the Newtown news on today, I'm feeling sensitive. Parent's worst nightmare and all that.
Indeed.
Thanks to my wonky schedule lately (additional duties covering for someone on medical leave), I didn't hear about what was going on until after the end of the school day. I'm glad for that, since by Friday afternoon I was way too overtired to say anything constructive.