By ELKE GOVERTSEN
One. Two.
I count. It’s what I do.
I count how many days until Christmas with my boys, the excitement building. I count how many points I want to make in a speech. I know exactly the number of items on my list.
Counting breaks big things into smaller ones, more bite-sized and palatable. It makes sense.
Yesterday there was a lot of counting. Three guns. One school. 26 people. 20 children.
And today, we begin a long, long count to a number none of us will reach—the place where this might make some sense.
When my sons asked what can we do, All I had was this: We can love people who are hurting or lonely.
And that is too large a number today as well.
Today, all I can count to is two. My blessings. And I will count them over and over.
One. Two.
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Publsher’s Note: Elke Govertsen also wrote this piece for her own website, Mamalode.com. We’re republishing it with her permission:
I Know Nothing. One Mom’s Love for Newtown, Connecticut
I know nothing of the fear of waiting. Nothing of the relief or devastation.
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Read more from one of Missoula’s favorite Mamas About Town, Elke Govertsen. And check out Missoula Children and Nature Network, Active Moms Missoula, and the Make it Missoula Business section.
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Visit the Mama About Town archive.
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Elke Govertsen is the publisher of Mamalode which is a magazine and website for area moms. When not juggling her family, business, and the laundry (disclosure – there is no laundry being done whatsoever), Elke tries to eek out time to write, do yoga, and read like a fiend.