Unconnected... yet connected...

I am unconnected to Virginia Tech. I don't know any students nor teachers.

I am connected as someone who has gone to college. An American. A brother, friend, and son. My sister says at least one of the students who was killed was a member of Campus Crusade for Christ.

My thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends of the 32 students that had their lives taken.
I think about all the people affected. Each of those 32 students (I am not counting the gunman - Cho Seung-Hui) were known by closely by at least 50 people, if not 100.

I think about a sports team missing a good player.

A band missing a member.

An empty dorm room now with only one roommate.

Classrooms with empty seats.

Emptiness.

Too many questions.

Too many unanswered questions.

The next few months to years ahead.

Laughter turned to silence.

Parents and other family and friends who desperately waited by the phone and computer to hear from someone… anyone… to hear if their son, daughter, or friend were alive.

Relationships: those now missing a best friend, fiancé, wife/husband, father/mother, son/daughter, sister or brother...

"Go where you can get the best hugs," school official urges.