Tragedy and Life

The tragedy in Colorado touched home a little bit. I have friends who know victims of the shooting rampage. As much as I have been looking forward to the final Batman movie, the desire to be first in line on Friday night or Saturday morning had been popped like a balloon after reading the horrific details of what happened Thursday night.

So I went off to work this morning without a thought towards the Batman movie. But I am father to a 12 year old boy. And while kids always want to see a movie, it isn't until they get to be around 12 years old that they begin to really want to see certain movies. In fact, us boys always remember that first big movie we wanted to see...


My first was E.T. It was released in 1982. I was exactly the same age that my son is now. I knew that feeling that my son was having. I can still feel it. I can still picture the day. I don't even remember seeing the movie in 1982, but I remember wanting to see it. I remember the long lines for tickets and popcorn. I even remember my mom and dad taking me to a theater quite a bit further away than normal because my dad thought the lines would be a little shorter and he wanted to take grandma.

So when I got home from work and the family asked to go out for lunch, I couldn't turn down my son when he asked if we could go see the movie after we ate. In fact, I realize now that he picked the restaurant (that he doesn't normally like) because he knew it would get him close to the theater.

So I went to see the new Batman movie with my wife and son. And became super freaked out when I saw a guy go out the emergency exit just a few minutes into the previews (honest to God truth). I asked myself why I let myself be talked into seeing this movie now, today, when my heart wasn't in it and it wasn't what I wanted to do.

Then I looked at my son.

He was bouncing in his seat, flipping his retainer in his mouth and just itching for that movie to start. I saw life there. I saw the love of a child's first movie. I saw that someday, thirty years from now, he will think back to that movie he talked his dad into going to see. He will remember tricking us into going near the movie theatre for lunch and that we unexpectedly got good seats even though we arrived only ten minutes before show time.

He probably won't remember the movie. He probably won't remember the tragedy in Colorado. But I will remember both. And as I offer heartfelt condolences to the family and victims of the tragedy, I will remember for a very long time, the light in my son's eyes as he got to see his 'first big movie'.

Tragedy happens. It happens to all of us in some way eventually. And it hurts. But it hurts because of moments like I had today with my son. Moments where Life, in all its goodness, shines through to remind us that while life is full of Tragedy, it is also full of Very Good Things.

Hold on to those you love today. Enjoy the Very Good Things.