The sad part of all of this is how many lives were forever changed from one single event. NP paid the most dearest price (rest her soul). Her families pain will never go away - and they will live with it forever. I hope they can find a way to get through it. I can only imagine that it will be the toughest test of their spirit.
My heart equally goes out to the accused family in all of this. Children that will never grow up with a mother. A mother that will never have her daughter or son back. Brothers, sisters, grandparents. The list goes on.
From all appearances (and from the images and posts I have seen and read) of TB's family, they seemed like a wholesome, loving group. They now face a life of shame, finger pointing, and that haunting question...why?
One thing that has struck me about this case is the spirit that has enveloped the community of Sarnia, and spread out literally across the world. Already $10,000 has been raised for the benefit of children in NP's memory, and I have a suspicion that amount will one day break a million.
In times of despair it is oftentimes hard to see the "silver lining." But I believe as a community, as a group, and as a society, what happened to NP will not be in vain. She will leave a lasting legacy, and even though she is not with us in body, will continue to make a difference in those lives she touched...and thousands that were never fortunate to have been touched. Before last week I never knew who NP was. I do today. And in a crazy way, I feel enriched for that.
I was talking about this case with a friend last night. One lesson this tragedy has taught me, is how imperative safety is and how that will be at the forefront of my mind directly because of this case. I've been in arguments in the past with girlfriends out at the bar. I've walked home alone after that. We have all done things that could have turned out horribly wrong. Whether it be as simple as getting lost or as tragic as walking into the path of an oncoming car. I knock on wood that nothing bad has happened to this day.
My wish is whenever a scenario like that happens again - and lets be honest, it undoubtedly will - that simply saying to your loved one, friend, or family member, "remember Noelle"......will guide us in making the right decision. I know that I plan to use that.
I hope each of us do.