Nova Scotia shootings

April 24, 2020 

The day of the Nova Scotia shootings we went out. Red of sweater and rain jacket, but really the red was in state of mind. Hoping that no one we know ever has to live such a thing, followed by wishing that no one would, and then by conversation of as blessed as we are up here in the North malevolence can take hold of a mind and manifest brutality anywhere. 

I heard the murderer had started, if such a thing can be said to be started, by beating and imprisoning his wife, and not for the first time. So, prior history. There are myriad points on a continuum where future possibilities are, well, possible. Those points are all 'round us. How many are present in our close circle? I can readily think of three recent-ish conversations where violence in a home is suspected or at least possible. What to do?

I don't know. Invoking a nanny state response is not it. …so, I remain, unknowing, confused, concerned, and determined to manifest true kindness (and not the faux one which covers for anxiety) in all directions and events as best I am able.

…

She and I once watched a SWAT team do their thing for 4 hours outside our windows as they snuck up on a neighbour's house. Full gilly suits and all. Later we learned that the neighbour, a friend who helped us significantly when we were rebuilding our 100 year old house's foundation, had gotten coked and boozed up, and beaten his wife and mother of their children.

Anyway, the entire time the swat team was storming his house he was on the other side of us, drinking coffee, commiserating, and presumably sobering up. Worst thing? The cops head office in Whitehorse had already been informed where he was before swat team arrived on scene, and management decided to let it play out anyway.