Where were you on April 19?<\/p>\n
On April 19, 1993 I was on a long drive toward a client’s headquarters when I heard the Branch Davidians were burning. For some reason I hadn’t taken the siege very seriously to that point (even though I’d taken the earlier Weaver siege as seriously as I’d ever taken anything in my life). Just a bunch of Jim Jonesy cultists, I thought. I figured the FBI would wait them out until Koresh got done with his preposterous “seven seals” manuscript<\/a>, then peaceably arrest and later release most of them. Cause you know, why would the FBI want to do more harm now<\/i> than they and the ATF had already done? Silly me.<\/p>\n On April 19, 1995 I don’t recall where I was physically. I just recall wondering how anybody could attack ATF and FBI offices and manage only to kill innocents, including babies and toddlers. Oh, why did it have to be babies and toddlers? I recall thinking, “Oh sh*t, everything gets a lot worse from here.” (Rince and repeat 6-1\/2 years later.)<\/p>\n So where were you? Physically, mentally, politically, and otherwise during those two cruelest months<\/a>?<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n On this<\/i> April 19, I’ll be out in the sunshine, sweating as I move leftover materials from last year’s house projects to better, more long-term places. On this April 19, I’m two days past having rid myself of those three heavy boxes<\/a> that were my last tangible connection to the Weaver tragedy.<\/p>\n The intangible connections are harder to shake. Impossible, actually. But sunshine, sweat, and decluttering help. In the end, there’s nothing to do but go on living.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n