Counting My Blessings

Last week our office shut down for vacation. For the first time in ages I didn't have any definite plans. After just getting back from a cruise in June and traveling out to Utah in March, I decided that I needed to catch up on things at home. My week was going to be used to help out my parents and also be on call if my college roommate needed me. Marie was just diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks ago and I wanted to leave a window of time open in case she needed me in Maine. Things seemed peaceful and even productive up until Tuesday morning. I think that I woke up right when Charlie left for work at about 7:30. I turned on the TV and settled on some program about stocks and finance. A little after 8:00 the phone rings - it is Pat, a friend of ours from church. She asked if Charlie was home and I tell her that he was at work. Then she asks if I've heard the news? There had been a shooting where Charlie works. All I could do is to hang up the phone and wait for his call. I nervously try several times to put my contacts in. Thanks be to God that he called right then to tell me that he was all right and that he didn't have his cell phone on him any longer. Right away I made calls to family members to inform them of his safety. The rest of the morning was a blur- of all days to have the chimney cleaned. The news being broadcast kept getting worse as the day progressed. 3 dead, then 5, then 7 and finally a total of 9. This is what Charlie told me when he got home in the afternoon.
He had overslept by 15 minutes and rushed off to work getting there about 5 minutes later that his normal 30 minutes of being early. When he arrived he parked his van in the back parking lot and headed toward the warehouse. He met his friend,Gerry, who was riding in a golf cart. This was his first day back to work after having knee surgery.They chatted for a couple of minutes and then Gerry took off toward the front of the building in his golf cart. Charlie took a couple of steps right outside the warehouse doors and heard popping noises like a toy gun. In a split second he sees two coworkers bolting toward the open doors shouting to run that someones shooting. Then it hits him what is going on, so the three of them run along the side of the building and into the far back of the grounds and hide under pine trees. Soon after, one of them signals the police who makes their way over to guard and protect them-eventually leading them to safety.
After he came home in the afternoon and relayed his story, it became so clear to us of how very lucky he was to have avoided being caught, involved, injured or even killed. There were so many factors that worked in his favor- being late, stopping to talk with Gerry and his coworkers fleeing at the precise time to lead him outside. That day, the disgruntled employee killed 8 great guys that Charlie worked with and injured Gerry by shooting him 3 times. Many of the victims put themselves in danger to save others- including the 2 that ran outside to alert Charlie.
What a senseless and heinous crime that took the lives of men in their 50s and 60s that had worked for the company for as many as 30 years. They were sons, dads and brothers that were loved by not only their family but also the community. I heard someone say that they never knew how involved some were in the community with sports and the youth. They had never been boastful about their service toward others.
Later in the week, we attended 3 services together in various towns. We joined about 80 other HDI workers traveling in 2 buses provided by the business. I sat next to Charlie in the bus waiting to leave the parking lot for about 45 minutes. In that time I noticed so many things. First I noticed the quiet and respectful nature of these truck drivers. Now remember, my Dad was a truck driver- so I have no disrespect. However, every now and then I do find myself referring to someone talking or acting like a "trucker". Today I saw these guys share hugs and fight back tears. I noticed one man that looked like he had just bought a new shirt which still had folds and creases from being in the package. It was cute and touching. Another driver sat across from us and I noticed him holding three handwritten envelopes for the families of the honored and loved deceased coworkers. One man caught the attention of others because he had never been seen in pants. He went to work every day of the year in shorts-except for today. What a tight group these people are, that work together.
I thank God for protecting Charlie that morning. I pray for the dear souls who lost their lives and I pray for the strength and comfort for the families and loved ones that they were taken from. My prayers are also with the employees of HDI that will return to work and carry the painful memories of that sad day forever.