They Say You Are Safest At Home
I wrote this post during the days following the Dawson shooting. But did not have the heart to post it out until today.
On the day and time of the shooting, I was actually at home, sleeping the day away. To put this article in perspective, allow me to elucidate that I live near to Concordia University and Dawson College.
So back to me at home, some time before one in the afternoon, my friend calls me to meet up with her. I hadn’t seen her for a month, so I get dressed up. I am not a radio or TV person. These are not the first things I open in the morning. And don’t even mention the internet, I have dial-up…enough said on that sorry fact.
So while I am walking out on Guy street, I am hearing people collected in small groups talking about how 4 people are dead. Now I do not mean to be callous or cold-hearted but this is how I was assuming things. The day before the shooting, the US Embassy in Syria had been bombed. When people were talking about deaths, I automatically assumed they are talking about the bombings in Syria. It never made sense for me to assume that something could have happened in Montreal.
So anyways, I turn on Maisonneuve Street going towards Concordia University, this is the street on which if you go up you end up next to Dawson College. Now there is a rush of people on that road, comments about 16 injured, 4 dead, killer killed himself…
I see and hear a person shout Dawson Students go to the Hall building (Old White Concordia Building) near the Guy-Concordia Metro on Guy Street. Another person is holding a cardboard placard with “Dawson Students” and arrow pointing towards the Hall Building written on it with green ink.
Even with all this, the only thing my beleaguered mind understands is, that probably some Frosh thing is going on for Dawson Students at Concordia University.
The extent to which we would assume things are all okay and normal is astounding.
I made it all the way to the 7th floor of Concordia University Hall Building without an utter clue on what had happened nearby. One student was sitting in the student lounge, on the 7th floor, talking on the cell phone about he was one who was shot at.
Only after meeting up with my friend did I find out what had occured. But to this day, even after so much reflection, I still cannot fathom the extent to which I ignored and was in my happy place thinking everything is business as usual in Montreal.
They say you are safest at home, but it should be said in my case, you think you are safest at home…but look around you and notice.