Rather than rehashing all the info on the Harvey story, you can read Meredith’s posting about the family’s murder here. Reading her post made me very sad and brought back my own set of memories about Carytown, World of Mirth and the life we used to lead in Westover Hills (which is right down the street from Woodland Heights, where the family was murdered in their home). Usually I have a pretty strong stomach about the things that happen in the world - it’s hard not to become somewhat jaded or immune to it considering every night there’s something about someone getting murdered, shot or something else.

This particular story really hit me hard. It hit me so hard that I avoided for the first few days thinking too much about it. The following days I couldn’t get enough of the story and scoured the online news sources for details. Now I’m back on the denial part. Every time the children’s pictures flash on the news I feel like someone is stepping on my gut. It’s hard not to think about Lily or Arden being in a similar situation and how afraid those children must have been. I’ve never understood killing children. What’s the point? Once my brain starts thinking along this path I have to shut it down because it really starts to bother me. I keep thinking that it could have been us. Why not?

Of course the murder of their family has got lots of people I know talking about “the city” and how unsafe it is. I just don’t think it’s “the city” or anything that general. Murders happen - they happen here in the counties, too. I rarely felt unsafe in our old neighborhood. We took basic precautions, like having a security system and a dog. I didn’t walk alone at night and I knew my neighbors and kept an eye out on their houses when they weren’t home. As far as I’m concerned, the city neighborhood we lived in was much tighter knit (and a lot more respectful of your privacy, I might add) and willing to lend a hand than our current subdivision. I hate to see the city getting a bad rap for this. Julie just bought at house at the edge of Westover Hills and I know some of her friends are freaking out. I just told her to be cautious like she’s always been and get to know some neighbors.

We’ve spent a lot of time with both girls this weekend, and that’s been nice. As cliched as it sounds, whenever something like this happens I always snap back to the reality that I have a great life and I’m so fortunate that my children are here with us. I feel slightly guilty for the times I lose my temper with them for being themselves - their wild, insane, goofy hyper selves - because they are alive, they are smart, and they are my heart. I realize that no mother can ever go through life without being irritated by her children, but I hope that I can direct the sadness I feel about the Harvey family into being a little more patience when Lily not only pushes my buttons, but stomps repeatedly on them.

I just heard on the news that there may be an arrest in the murder case. I hope it’s the right person because I know a lot of people are having trouble sleeping right now, not knowing who did this or why.