Like the rest of the world, we had a hard time last week, listening to the news coming out of San Bernardino, California. Two circumstances brought it close to home: that the shooting was in a center that served adults with developmental disabilities, and that a school for the blind was directly across the street.
News folks talked to a leader at the center from the blind, announced that no one there was hurt, and they had in fact sheltered some who ran from the shooting site. We felt a small amount of relief.
Then we took a collective deep breath and went on with our lives. Amigo put on his costume for the Barbershop Bistro show, and we headed out of the house. Chuck and Amigo left their phones behind. I set mine on vibrate and tucked it deep in my purse. When we arrived, we set the sad world news aside for a little while.
The show had a 1940s theme. Here’s Amigo.
Just a few weeks earlier, we’d been at the local museum for the Festival of Trees. Can you find Amigo in the group? At first, neither could I. He fits in very well.
Jingle, Jingle, Jingle!
Music soothes. It can’t take away the violence, but it can take us out of the big bad world for a little while, lower our blood pressure, and celebrate being together with those we love.
Amen, my friend. Art helps our souls so much. I’m glad Amigo gets to sing with such a fine group of fellows, too!
Your uncle was also struck by the fact that the shooting was in a center that served adults with developmental disabilities, since he knows how dedicated the entire staff is for your cousin’s center. Such evil is difficult to hear.