Virginia Tech

I'm freaking out.

I grew up in a very small town, just across the border of Montgomery County and Giles County, around 30 minutes away from Virginia Polytechnic University. My Dad graduated from VPI (Va Tech) and I used to spend a lot of time on the campus a child/teen. Since my Dad was an alumnus, I was able to get a library card, so I spent tons of time in the library and in the bookstore.

The bookstore was just a couple of blocks away from Main Street, where I would buy records at Round and Around, makeup from the Corner Drug, books at Books Strings and Things and art supplies at Mish Mish.

I went to Radford University, a smaller university around 15 miles away, and dated a few Va Tech students.

The area around Va Tech is pretty rural, for the most part, so a lot of people I grew up with/am related to work there. I haven't heard confirmation yet, but I'm hoping my cousin Dan is okay -- he works for Va Tech at an off-campus location.

My cousin Robin, however, works in Burruss hall (the big castle-looking building they keep showing on the news). Right next door to the first shooting location. I just got off the phone with her, and she is fine. She was alone in her office this morning,since everyone else went to a meeting. She said she heard the shots in the dorm next door, and she saw them carrying victims out.

I can't even say how weird and terrifying it is to see this beautiful campus, that's so much a part of my childhood and who I am, on the news, filled with such horror.

Part of me feels like I am sitting across the street at Gilley's eating ice cream.

I am dreading seeing the list of victims.