I was off work the day last week when the shooting happened in Santa Monica.

A senseless and horrible tragedy, my prayers and thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.

 

 

It happened on a Friday and I watched very little of the coverage through the weekend, but on Monday I was right in the thick of our coverage of the aftermath.

 

 

It was interesting to me to see how some were barely affected by the event and others were experiencing what appeared to be deep shock and trauma.

 

 

It’s a part of my job to cover tragedy, but I’ll be honest, I wish I’d been assigned to another story.

 

 

Some days I’m better able to handle the grief and sadness of others. I was right up front next to grieving family members during the vigil held for those killed in the incident.

 

Unfortunately, I don’t have the option of picking the stories I cover. If I had a choice, I would have passed on this story and let it go by without being involved.

 

 

I only say any of this because I’m just being honest about what I experience in covering the news. Still, no matter how bad my day might be, I know at the end of my shift, I’m only a witness to the grief and pain.

 

There are others and in this case many others, who aren’t so lucky.