Wisconsin shootings hit home

KATIE HODGINS STAFF WRITER KAH722@CABRINI EDU

The other night, my father and I were watching CNN. We were both interested in the ongoing process to catch Brian Nichols, the suspect in the courtroom shooting in Atlanta.

Whenever I hear stories like this one, I can never stop watching and wondering how these people’s minds can get so faded. Are they really that cold-hearted or do they have an underlying issue?

While we were at the airport we had to make a decision, either attempt to go to Spain again, or enjoy the country of Italy more.

We had to make alternate plans last minute that ended being very memorable.

We traveled by train from Rome to the city of Sienna. Getting around on public transportation in another country is very interesting. We made sure we asked at least three different people if we were on the right train before getting on it. Who knows where we would end up if we got on the wrong train.

Since my friend had been living in Italy for two months she grew accustomed to the culture of Italy. She taught us a lot about the people, the food and the language. Throughout the trip she ended up being our tour guide who broke the language barrier

The landscape of Sienna was made up of breathtaking rolling hills and small village alleys full of small shops.

We were lucky to see the city covered in a blanket of snow Our time in Sienna was full of sightseeing, shopping and wine tasting.

Next stop on our train traveling was Pisa. This was my favorite stop because of the beautiful architecture. Taking photographs of the Leaning Tower of Pisa felt very surreal.

Being a tourist in a foreign country was a great experience for me, and I wish I could have stayed longer.

For anyone who gets the chance to go abroad, take it. You may never get the chance to do it again.

I guess my plane not making it to Spain was God’s way of saying that Italy was where we were meant to be.

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Dr. Nick Uliano Department of

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I have asked these kinds of questions while watching the news many times, especially when the news involves tragic shootings like this.

I also notice just how random locations of these tragedies can be: a courtroom in Atlanta, a high school in a town called Columbine and an entire region staying indoors because of a sniper.

The list goes on.

Families suffer and lose loved ones in many places. Hearing these stories over the years always made me feel lucky that nothing like this ever happened in Delaware County, at least in the years that I know of.

In a few weeks, my grandfather is going to be moving in with my parents and myself because he misses the area. Right now, he is living with my aunt and uncle in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

I’ve visited Brookfield before. It is an incredibly friendly, suburban town with one of the Great Lakes nearby. When I was there, I received a countless number of smiles and nods from strangers. More nods and smiles than I receive on a day here at home.

While I was watching the development on the Nichols story, there was a breaking news story There had been another shooting. I heard that a man had gone to a church service and shot seven people then shot himself. The shooting was in Brookfield.

First I though, wow, Brookfield. Then I remember I heard the words “church service.” My grandfather is extremely religious. I immediately started to panic. Thankfully, I came to learn no members of my family were in danger. It was not the same church my grandfather attends. But for that few seconds it wasn’t a question of what if. It was the town my relatives lived. It sounded like something my relatives would attend. Anice suburban town.

Radnor is a nice suburban town.

Am I supposed to trust everyone here?

No matter how far or how close something happens, there are always “what ifs.”