That was when I met Connie Woolfolk. At the time, Connie worked in the Economic Development Department for The Village of Park Forest and was in charge of issuing business licensing. She was bursting with enthusiasm and very helpful in the answering of my questions.
Her excitement was infectious and a few weeks after my initial exploratory call, I decided to take the plunge and eSeMBe was born.
Connie helped me every step of the way through the licensing and registration. She called me personally to invite me to the quarterly business breakfast that the village hosted, and greeted me with a hug at our first meeting.
She went out of her way to make me feel welcome, and took the time to introduce me to other folks in the village that she thought would be interested in my services. She was a champion for me and my business.
Over the next year or so we worked together often and I never saw her without a smile on her face, and I don't think more than a few minutes ever passed without her laughing or making a joke. When she left the village to work with her family, I hated to see her leave but wished her the best.Tragically, Connie was killed this last weekend in the senseless shooting of 5 people in a neighboring community.
I'm having trouble writing anything more about that. I still feel like I got punched in the stomach when I think about it.
Sometimes this world just sucks.
SB
(Photo Courtesy of The Village of Park Forest)
I struggle with the stupidity of such violence, and no matter what I read, or what I hear people say to explain it -- that it's random -- that there's nothing we can do about it -- it's disgusting.
I am so very sorry...
And now some idiot shoots up cops, the mayor, and other city officials in MO.
People, what is wrong with the world???
Thank you so much for your comments. I think that combination of anger and sadness, and the struggle to understand just what I'm feeling is what makes this so difficult.
Add to that, I read last night that the folks at westboro baptist church are now planning to picket her funeral. These are the same ones that were picketing funerals of soldiers killed in action. Their words are so hateful I can't even put them here.
As if it wasn't bad enough for her family to have to come to terms with this senseless tragedy, they now have to deal with it being used for someone's twisted religious agenda.
There is indeed something wrong with this world.
SB
Why would anyone picket a funeral?
I'm so sorry for your loss. You're right, sometimes it does just suck.
SB
Thank you for your visit and for your kind words.
SB