A Weekly Column
by Mary Wilson
June 27, 2019
I came into the office this morning with my column, for the most part, written out in my head. I was awake early writing in my thoughts, and was eager to sit at my desk and put the words down. That was, until, I received an email that would change the course of my day.
Once again, I sit here in disbelief and heartbreak after the news came through of a shooting in Grandview that took the life of a 14-year-old teenager. A boy, slightly older than my own, who will never have the chance to step foot through Grandview High School as a freshman, won’t be able to ask anyone to prom, and won’t see the remake of The Lion King next month. Gun violence took everything from this boy, from his family, and it makes me sick.
It’s getting tougher and tougher to put my personal feelings aside, stick on my press badge and write these stories. I’m a person before I’m a journalist, and the human side of me types through tears more often than I care to admit.
I’ve written this before. I’ve pleaded and begged and wept, hoping for change. Praying for our children. Waiting for action. Yet, here we are.
Another mother is incomplete. Our community is heartbroken again (or still). Our police are seeking answers, and our kids have lost a friend. At what point do we wake up from this nightmare?
What will it take? How many need to die at the hands of senseless people with guns? I surely don’t have the answers. I wish I did. Until then, I will continue to write, and I will continue to love.
Tonight, when I finally head home after a long day with deadlines and meetings, and I can crawl into my bed knowing (hoping) my own Grandview teen is safely in his. I will close my eyes and I will see this other boy’s face. His smile from the photos that were shared on social media will shine bright in my thoughts. And I will wake up tomorrow. Something this boy will never do again.
Once again, I sit here in disbelief and heartbreak after the news came through of a shooting in Grandview that took the life of a 14-year-old teenager. A boy, slightly older than my own, who will never have the chance to step foot through Grandview High School as a freshman, won’t be able to ask anyone to prom, and won’t see the remake of The Lion King next month. Gun violence took everything from this boy, from his family, and it makes me sick.
It’s getting tougher and tougher to put my personal feelings aside, stick on my press badge and write these stories. I’m a person before I’m a journalist, and the human side of me types through tears more often than I care to admit.
I’ve written this before. I’ve pleaded and begged and wept, hoping for change. Praying for our children. Waiting for action. Yet, here we are.
Another mother is incomplete. Our community is heartbroken again (or still). Our police are seeking answers, and our kids have lost a friend. At what point do we wake up from this nightmare?
What will it take? How many need to die at the hands of senseless people with guns? I surely don’t have the answers. I wish I did. Until then, I will continue to write, and I will continue to love.
Tonight, when I finally head home after a long day with deadlines and meetings, and I can crawl into my bed knowing (hoping) my own Grandview teen is safely in his. I will close my eyes and I will see this other boy’s face. His smile from the photos that were shared on social media will shine bright in my thoughts. And I will wake up tomorrow. Something this boy will never do again.
Tweets by @MWilsonJCA
Mary Wilson, editor of the Jackson County Advocate newspaper, grew up in the Grandview community. She currently serves on the Missouri Press Association Board of Directors and works as Development Coordinator for the Grandview Education Foundation. Previously, she served as president of Grandview Main Street and on the board of directors of the Kansas City Press Club. Her most important title is that of "Mom" to her teenage son.
You can reach her at mwilson@jcadvocate.com.
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