This has been a horrific week in my community as well as the entire nation. Today I wear the colors of our adopted local university as we mourn together.
My family moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia from Seattle nearly four years ago to retreat from urban life and raise our daughters. We have no regrets. This is still a wonderful area and we are proud to be part of the Hokie nation.
May God bless the families and friends of the victims. And you, too.
Excerpt from convocation at Virginia Tech, April 17, 2007
Through our blood and tears
Through all the sadness
We are the Hokies
We will prevail
We will prevail
We will prevail
We are Virginia Tech
— Nikki Giovanni, poet and professor of English
Real life can sometimes be worse than a terrible nightmare. We are all Hokies now in our hearts.
Friday I wore the orange and maroon, as did many folks here in Nittany Lion country.
Thanks for your concern and support. It means a lot.