I'm just sad today.

[catbyte]

This week sucks. First Robin Williams, then my all time favorite actress, Lauren Bacall. The icing on the cake? I get home from work yesterday, turn on the local news, and see coverage of a funeral for a 9 year-old boy who was stabbed to death on a playground in Kentwood last week by a 12 year-old. It hasn't gotten any coverage except locally, but the 9 year old was talking to the 12 year old, trying to make friends, when the 12 year old stabbed him repeatedly. This is an excerpt from the 911 call the 12 year old made after asking a stranger to borrow his cell phone:

"Hi. I just stabbed somebody. Please pick me up. I want to die. I don’t want to be on this earth anymore. Please pick me up,” the boy said into the phone after dialing 911, Stacy said."

When questioned by police, the 12 year old stated that "he wanted to die" so he killed the boy so "the police would give him the electric chair." Now the Kent County Prosecutor's Office is considering charging him as an adult. I thought they didn't release names of juveniles, but the suspect's name & pictures of him have been all over the local media.

What could have happened to this poor little boy that would make him do what he did?

Like I said, I am sad today. And no, I am not depressed, just sad. I have challenges, but I try to enjoy every day and besides, my 3 awesome cats would never forgive me if I left them alone

I hope all of you in DU Land treat each other with kindness. I've seen a lot of snarkiness, and well, downright meanness from some lately. Come on, life's too short and there's too much sadness everywhere else to intentionally make others feel bad here where it should be safe. Sorry, if I sound preachy. Life sucks enough, and I do love it here.

Take care, everyone.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/08/connor_verkerkes_family_taking.html#incart_river

[catrose]

1. So sorry.

I feel similarly, but I'll go ahead and call it depression, as I'm pretty much alternating staring at the wall and the Internet. Reasons are similar, though I hadn't heard of the stabbing. I made a vow long ago to try to make the world better, to add love when I saw hate, but I've just no idea how to do that now.

Petting the cats would be a good idea for both of us.

[catbyte]

10. Sometimes it's all so overwhelming. Gaza, Iraq, Missouri, L.A,, floods, damn.

It helps to come here to be amongst friends in trying times like these. But I am home now, surrounded--literally--by my 3 kitties, Cranky Nigel (a very frisky 19), Sammy (my 2 year old little girl), and Otis (a budding hellbeast who just turned 1 and is already awesome.) They've been uber affectionate this week. They are all rescues, but this week they're rescuing me. I think they sense my mood. On the other hand, they could all be snuggling up to me because, here in Michigan, the temps are closer to late September than mid-August, lol.

Thank you for your kind words. Give your furry ones a scritch under the chin for me!

[3catwoman3]

2. Here is a "Hang in there"...

...cyber hug from me and my 5 cats - ((((( >^..^< )))))

[catbyte]

11. Thanks so much. I love the kitty smilie too.

[dawg]

3. Woof woof woof!

We can't have a thread with only "cat" posters.

[brer cat]

4. Cats rule, dogs drool.

[dawg]

6. We only drool when we are really really hungry.

Occasionally, the edge of my pillow might be a little damp when I wake up in the morning. But I am certain that is the result of some sort of nefarious cat trick and nothing to do with drooling at all.

[brer cat]

9. lol

I have a dog not a cat at the present time. I understand slightly damp pillows.

[brer cat]

5. I feel your pain, catbyte.

I don't understand the need for the snarkiness here sometimes...we should be looking for friends and not enemies on DU.

[catbyte]

12. Thanks for that, brer cat.

[dawg]

7. On a more serious note ...

there is much sadness in the world. If we pay attention to the media, we are inundated with it.

Even our personal lives are often filled with stress, anger, and betrayal. It is easy to feel like giving up.

But there is so much goodness in the world too. Today, I learned that there is person called "catbyte" who has the same sort of feelings as me. Not only that, but apparently this "catbyte" is the sort of person who wants to promote kindness and civility, and she goes out of her way to make an OP for just that reason.

Well, now I'm just a little bit less sad because I know there is a catbyte in the world. All of us have our own small ways of making an impact. Each and every one of us changes the world every day, if only by a small degree.

[catbyte]

8. ...

See, dawgs & cats DO get along!

Thank you for that.

[Octafish]

13. Albert King

"The heart grows stronger by facing the evils of the world." -- Ludwig van Beethoven (Fidelio)

Amazing life, Beethoven's. He was at the point of quitting after realizing he was going deaf. Then he realized what it was all about and moved the art of music to a new dimension.

"Whoever gets to know and understand my music, will be freed from all the misery that drags down others." -- Ludwig van Beethoven