After being on the road for 10 days, Steve & I returned to our home in Wisconsin for a period of re-assessment and research.  When Steve logged onto the internet, the local news reported a shocking story.  A gunman had entered the spa where we had our hair cut just days before we left on our trip, and in a violent outburst, killed 3 women who worked there and himself.   I found out today that one of the three victims was the lady who cut my hair, Maelyn Lind.  She took two of the pictures that are featured on my last blog post: the one of me and the “after” shot of the two of us.  You can read the news report here.  *an additional story from her family is here.

I have not been in any hair salon for the past 3 years.  I do not intend to go to another for quite some time.  I only knew Maelyn for an hour.  The likelihood of our intersection was based on the slimmest percentage, and yet, we did meet.  And 13 days later, she was killed.  Domestic violence, gun violence, is part of our culture.  We will all be effected sooner or later.  This makes me incredibly sad, and it makes me wonder how our community is addressing this common and destructive issue.  When we introduce guns to people, be it through the military, through the police, through recreation or any other avenue, we are introducing an instrument of devastation into situations that we can neither predict nor police.  Do we really want to make it so easy for the elements of catastrophe to come together?

I respect this lady, her work, her family, her life.  I am deeply disappointed that an act of supreme disrespect cut her life short.  May she rest in peace; may all beings be freed from suffering.   And may we all take responsibility for finding ways to avoid violence in our communities.