Today, I took my son back to MSU. I commend all involved in the heartwarming reception returning students received following this past week of anguish.
Thousands of parents, groups and businesses came together, in a decidedly midwestern fashion, to ease the pain and calm the hesitation of returning to campus. Moms with shirts and signs offering “Mom Hugs” to comfort those who may not have their own nearby, or those not fully grasping what they are now part of.
Dogs!…dogs everywhere, invited for the unconditional tail wag of affection in exchange for a simple pat on the head. The Spartan statue, “Sparty” was in serious jeopardy of drowning in a sea of flowers to pay tribute to and commemorate those fallen. And of course, doing what we do, heal with ample amounts of comfort food.
Despite all the people and goings on, the necessary cathartic river of tears flowed, the solemness was not lost, and in the face of its enormity, remained a dignified affair with the reassuring undertone of hope, fast healing and perseverance it needed to be.
It was simple, it was sweet, it was in-person, it was just right. At the end of it all, the ugliness was washed behind us by a tidal wave of caring, embracing, and the clear message “this is who we are, you are not alone, you are family; that will never be shaken.”
For the students, the light of this event is the memory that should and will endure, leaving the dark moments of the week remembered, but as the footnotes.
M. Thurber
Lake Orion