I feel a need to apologize for what might be construed as a rather thoughtless picture of the day. I took the shot earlier this afternoon with two goals in mind. First, I wanted to share with other parents what I thought was a very funny decorative pillow my sister-in-law gave me. And secondly, I was testing a new lens I bought (expensive and probably unnecessary...but...you know how it is). Anyways, I processed the shot and then let it sit for the afternoon, evening, as I graded papers.

The kids are asleep now, the house is quiet. David is reading nearby. I looked at the news for the first time today and I realized it was the anniversary of the Columbine shootings in Colorado. For those of you who don't know, I'll tell you that it was a sad case of teenagers deciding that killing fellow students with assault rifles, and then themselves, was a good way to solve their problems. The ripple effects of their decision are still felt in the United States. I look at this pillow in light of those kids who'd been raised by some parents...

Cute, pecking duckies...can be lethal.

Today is also the birthday of Adolf Hitler.

Yesterday, the 19th, was the anniversary the tragic Waco, Texas, seige in 1993 where 80 cultists died, many of whom were children. That incident was partially the cause for the Oklahoma City bombing which took place on the same date two years later.

Little duckies...peck, peck, peck.

As I look at the picture again, reconsidering, I see once again a reference to an earlier message amidst the horrors: live life bravely. And a necessary part of living is laughing.

And damn it, that pillow makes me laugh.