The LA Fitness tragedy -- There but for fortune go I

[SW_PA_Couple]

At 9 PM yesterday evening, we received a frantic call from JoAnn's daughter who lives in a town hundreds of miles away. "I've been trying to call aunt Mary and she won't answer." "Well", JoAnn say, "leave her a message." "Don't you know?", daughter says. "Four people were shot dead at the LA Fitness." We were stunned. We turned on the TV and learned about the horrifying event. We knew that Mary went to the Salsa aerobic dancing session every Tuesday evening. We called Mary's cell phone over and over. No answer; no Answer. It was terrifying. On TV we heard that friends and family who wanted information should go to the Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department; don't go to any of the hospitals, they won't let you in. We went. Huge mob of people. Huge confusion. The fire-department people and the Allegheny County police are trying their best but there were simply too many questions, very few answers. At 3 AM, I say to JoAnn, "Fuck this. We're going to Mary's apartment." We go. We pound on her door. Minutes pass. We pound some more. Finally, a voice from behind the door. "I called the police. Go away." "Mary, Mary, open the door." We are so glad to see her that we smother her with hugs and kisses.

Seems that Mary decided to go to a movie rather than to go to LA Fitness. She turned off her phone so that it would not disturb the theater patrons. She never turned it on again. "Haven't you seen the TV?" "Well, yes", she says. My next reaction is that I wanted to strangle her. "Everybody knows that you to aerobics every Tuesday evening. Do you think you could have called one of us to say you were OK?" But I soon calmed down. It was just good to know she was still alive and well.

JoAnn and I were members of LA Fitness until just one months ago. We were not unhappy with the place. We simply found something better when the township community center opened. If we had still been members, we might have been there. Heaven be thanked!

Our hearts and prayers are with the people who lost friends and lost family members. It is just too sad.

~Michael -- glad to be alive.

[The Fuse]

I am glad your sister is well and you are also well. It's a pretty awful thing when something like that happens. We are all vulnerable and could get caught up in events totally unrelated to our lives, at any time.

[NCfuncouple98]

I can only imagine what was running through both of your minds through those hours of the unknown.

I'm so glad Mary is safe and home, and am thankful she chose a movie that particular evening! Out of curiousity, did she regularly attend the Tuesday class and this was a fluke? Wondering why she changed plans, if that was the case. It always amazes me to hear those stories.

Just reminds all of us that life is a precious gift.

Mrs. NC

[warrencouple]

Wow. I heard about this shooting on the radio today.

Very glad to hear that Mary is OK, wasn't there!

Jason

[LFM2]

I read about the tragic event this afternoon on a national news site.

I have such a hard time wrapping my head around such tragic deaths, but am really, really glad that Mary is well and home. What a blessed twist of fate that she decided to go to a movie instead.

[SW_PA_Couple]

We have had a couple of day (and some time for sleep) to absorb this. Yes, what it comes down to is we are simply happy that Mary is still with us.

JoAnn and I have often said to ourselves, "live for the day." A tree limb could fall on one of us; a person could be run over by a bus; my heart could attack me.

Thanx all for the expressions of understanding.

~Michael

[Mr. Truelove]

If I were you I'd feel particularly lucky. I was reading this creeps online diary that they made public. Apparently he chickened out a few times before. He even had all the weapons and everything at the gym months prior.

I don't understand and likely never will understand why people feel the need to take others out with them. If someone really wants to end it, fine, but leave others alone.