A sad day.

It's a sad day, not just for Goober Central, but for the whole of the United States, the world even, anyone who has ever loved a child or who has even the tiniest bit of a heart.

Yesterday, as most know, the news broke about a heinous shooting in CT, that as of last count left 9 adults and a staggering 18 children were slaughtered pointlessly. My heart aches for the victims, the survivors, the families, and their loved ones.  Even today, my eyes tear up and my heart breaks as I type this.  I want so badly to believe that this was all just a nightmare that I can wake up from, but that's not the case.  This happened.  I still can't believe it.

It came to my attention early this morning that the shooter was allegedly diagnosed with a personality disorder and Asperger's Syndrome.  This is being used by some to, in a small way, excuse his actions.  "It's a horrible thing to do, but he had such and such, so that kind of explains it."  As a mother of a son with classical autism, and ex-girlfriend of a man with AS, and a woman with bipolar disorder this deeply saddens me.  The diagnosis does not make you a good or a bad person.  Underneath the diagnosis is the person you are. And everyone who receives the diagnosis has the opportunity to learn coping skills that if they had been employed here could have saved lives.  No, the personality disorder and autism may have added a complication to his processing, but it was the man that decided to do this horrible thing.  And it is the man alone that should take the blame for it.  There are no excuses, there are no reasons good enough.

So today, in the wake of the tragedy, I want to ask something of everyone in this community.  Whether you have, or love someone with autism or a personality disorder, I want you to bring awareness to it, show the goodness and love that can come from these things, so the world doesn't see only the bad.  Shine your light, and help us wash away the shadow this monster has cast on our community.  Those that can help with anything for those people in CT, do so.  I don't have any good links for places to donate, but ask you church, Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, if they aren't doing something specifically, they will know someone who is.  Don't waste this time today arguing about gun laws or playing the blame game.  Love your kids, do something kind for a stranger today, and shine your light.  It's what the world needs.

All of our hearts here at Goober Central go out to the victims, survivors, families, and loved ones of this heinous crime.  We send positive energy and prayers out to all those suffering today. Our hearts are broken for you.