Musings on a memory

Joe Smith/Carlie Brucia
When this story was broadcast on the news, I believed I had met the person responsible for the murder and had even sat in class with him.  Now I'm not sure.

In 1986 I sat in a class with a fellow named Joe Smith.  He was a smart, clean cut looking fellow, mostly polite and I never talked to him much.  I didn't know him outside of class really, so all I have is the impression I received of him in class.

I don't believe the person I knew would harm a little girl, but the Joe Smith in this news story resembles the one I sat in class with just a little bit, and he is the right age.  I hope he isn't the one I knew.  I hope always that people I know would not do things to harm others.

You never know when you see beginnings, how the endings will be.  Endings are often abrupt and unpredictable and don't really announce themselves unless they are planned.

There are no places and times and people that are really without some sort of record.  Even when we think we are alone, we really aren't.  Somewhere out there we are watched by eyes we don't know about.  Maybe behind some of those eyes are loving thoughts, but not all.

In retrospect, I would like to think that I'm looking at someone else.  I want to believe no one I know would intentionally bring harm to another.  Life and events prove me wrong.  I hope someday they won't prove me wrong anymore, and there will be no more people destroying other people, not their lives, not their hopes, not their dreams.

I hope someday the system will change and parents and children will respect and love one another.