Why not a happy ending?

I know this has been all over the major news stories but I just wanted to post something about it here.

In Huntington, UT a mine collapsed 12 days ago. 6 workers are missing. The mining community has been working non stop to try to locate where the miners are inside the mountain. 3 holes (and a 4th has been started) have been drilled from the top of the mine to see if they can find the missing miners.

Last night there was breaking news and all the reporters could do was speculate what was happening. 5-6 ambulances were rushed to the top of the mountain and life flight could be seen landing in the area. There wasn't much chance that the miners were found because they would have to be reached through a main tunnel not the 9inch holes being drilled. So the only possibility was there was another collapse. As a few of the ambulances left the reporters could see chest compressions being done on someone.

Later it was released that three rescue workers had died and 6 others were injured. You can see the actual story here or here or here.

I try not to dwell too much on this kind of stuff because I just feel so helpless. There isn't much I can do other then wait with the rest of the world to find out what exactly is going on. I can't even imagine what the families are going through. They don't know if their family members are alive or dead and at this point if they will even be able to find them. The work just is too dangerous. But when all three of the major networks are covering it and there isn't' much on TV and I'm all caught up on DVR all I can do is watch and wait. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep my mind was definitely on the miners. I just wanted a happy ending for them. I wanted them to be found after 12 days in a mine; to miraculously come walking out blinking at the bright lights and hugging their family. But now with this new tragedy I'm not sure that is ever going to be possible. It's sad and it just sucks. Those men risked their lives to make money for their family. I'm sure they know the danger of being a miner just as a soldier, a policeman or a fireman knows the danger of their job. It just sucks.

So say a prayer for the miners, the resuce workers and all of their families today.

When it happens so close to home

Life is scary. Everywhere you turn (on TV, Internet, Radio) you hear about the bad things that are happening around the world. Bombing in other countries, Soldiers being killed, school shootings... then it happens close to home.

Today at 6:45 right in the middle of the dinner hour a Mall very close to my work was attacked by a gunman with a shotgun. I didn't even hear about it until we got home from having dinner with the in-laws, having my mom print pictures, and visiting a neighbor. At first I just thought shooting at a mall -- probably gang related. But it wasn't, it was a man going into a crowded mall and shooting random people. There were families there, there were children there, there were brothers, sisters, mothers, father, grandparents, THEY WERE INNOCENT PEOPLE! People were hiding in stairwells, in stores, even in freezers at restaurants trying to stay safe. People died (possibly 5 - 6 counting the gunman).

Why do people do this. What gives them the right to take the lives of innocent people? I've asked this when I hear about school shootings, bombings, 9/11. But WHY!? If their lives suck so bad, why not just kill themselves why take others down with them? I just don't get it. I'm sure I never will.

It's scary because the shooting happened just down the street from where I work. We eat at that mall on occasion. I mean it's the only Mall in Utah with a Pottery Barn! How scary to go back there. Knowing what happened there, that people were killed there. I'm sure the mall will be closed for days -- to clean up and to let the people heal.

We can't live being scared though. I've talked about this before here. I know when I go out (even before this happened) I have mini anxiety attacks because I have a very wild imagination and I imagine the worst possible situation and how I'll get out of it. Then this happens and it will start all over again. I mean these people thought they were safe, they just went to the mall to have dinner or to shop and THIS HAPPENS!

Yeah I'm in shock. I sat down to watch Heroes that I had taped from earlier on DVR to take my mind off of the shooting and all I had was breaking news of this story (not that I was mad -- I mean we need to know what's going on). I'm sure for the next few days I will just be obsessed in finding out all the info that I can about this. It's crazy to watch the footage of the cops going into the mall with their guns drawn. Staying close to the walls and entering storefronts with caution. Even video of the cops on the Mall roof. Can you imagine how long and hard it will be to clear an entire Mall? This Mall takes up a few blocks, the cops will have to check each store, dressing rooms, backrooms, restaurants, freezers, crawl spaces, stairways. It's just crazy! Tragedy

So yeah I'm going to bed. I need to sleep. I need to not think about this.

KSL News Story
KUTV News Story
CNN New Story