The deadly explosions at the Boston Marathon triggered my memories of another horrible tragedy that killed a child, injured dozens, and stopped a community cold.

January 8, 2011.

This was the day of the shootings at a Tucson, Arizona grocery store.

That was also the day Sip and Go Girl began materializing because I felt a calling toward more writing and also focusing on communication and relationships.

I was sitting in a Starbucks paying bills and reading when a customer walked to the counter, ordered a drink, and told the worker there had been a shooting at Ina and Oracle.

I paid little attention but marked the words.

A few minutes later another customer came into the store. She said the same thing. But she added, “and Gabrielle Giffords has been shot.”

Now I paid attention. Giffords was a member of United States Congress.

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To read the rare & actual press release sent to TV stations & other news media to publicize the January 8 grocery store event, click here:
GiffordsCongressOnYourCorner

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I sent a text message to the TV station’s senior newscast director Randy.

Sat, Jan 8 11:13am

Me: Hey! Not @ home. Hearing Gabrielle Giffords shot? Something like that near Ina, Oracle?? Know anything??

Sat, Jan 8 11:17am

Randy: Holy shit. No.

I called David the crackerjack weekend producer at the time.

He said yes it’s true. I said, “I’m on my way.”

I called coworkers including Randy as I drove to the station. He had gotten word already from his boss Dave and was on his way to the station. I called others and said “Come to work NOW.” Normally this wouldn’t be in my power or control, but I have the ability to think straight under pressure and to get moving. Experience meant I knew we needed people like a darn good tape editor who could smoothly and quickly take in live feeds and video.

Making order out of chaos is my thing.

That day was long and the days after even longer. Jared Loughner had killed six people and hurt 13 others.

I started taking notes about the experience immediately because although I had been a part of big news stories, none were as powerful and local as this one. I told coworkers I was writing about the January 8 shootings from a TV news person’s perspective.

But the general topic seemed empty to me as I hugged sobbing colleagues and saw normally stoic people with anger and sadness flash in their eyes. Most were team players with true hearts, but I witnessed people take the opportunity to be nasty and mean.

I wanted to help. I wanted to heal.

I went to Bill the general manager and told him the staff, especially in news and production, needed an outlet like therapists. I didn’t like seeing people in need. It affected work and it affected relationships.

I realized it wasn’t the shootings I wanted to write about in the project I was creating. It was human beings. I wanted to learn and teach about communication and relationships. I wanted to use all I learned working for university communications offices– reaching out to dozens of different groups.

It took more than a year, but the Sip and Go Girl project is finally off the ground and more doors have opened than I would have dreamed possible.

When I see news coverage of the Boston Marathon explosions I remember the agonizing blur of January 8 and the power of fear and anger over people.

But I mostly remember the power of life.

We only get one time on this earth as ourselves.