Thoughts to the past, present

I was sitting at my computer during my prep hour today, reading the Star Tribune website, when I read that the bus trial had gone to the jury. I will admit that I haven't been following the trial that closely, and I think the part of it is not wanting to bring myself back to that dark time. What has constantly been on my mind, though, are the people who have had no choice. My heart goes out to anyone who has had the tragic duty of spending the last couple weeks in Hudson, having to relive a terrible night day after day.

I'm not going to give my opinion based on what I have read, because I don't feel informed enough to do so. I trust that our country's legal system will produce a just verdict. But again, that hasn't been my main concern. I have a picture of Branden at my desk that serves as a daily motivation for me to try to live up to his memory. And each time I've looked at it recently, I think of everyone else still with us that are affected daily by this tragedy, and I wonder, regardless of who is to blame, why it had to happen.

I don't know of proceedings like this are actually supposed to provide any closure, or if families will feel like "justice has been served," but my hope is that the conclusion of this and whatever other legal proceedings lie ahead allow those affected to take a couple steps further in healing.

And now, I look outside, and see gray skies for the first time in days.