Sep 16
9
The summer of 2016 was professionally and personally exhausting. In a word … surreal. Three consecutive tragedies — on June 10, June 12 and June 14 — thrust Orlando into the international spotlight. The senseless murder of Christina Grimmie was overshadowed as the world watched in shock as the aftermath of the heinous mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub unfolded near downtown Orlando. Hundreds of media had descended upon the city and kept that tragedy top of mind. For those of us working tirelessly on the front lines or behind the scenes, reality struck mid-week and tempers flared, tears were shed or both. And when the baby, Lane Graves, was literally snatched from his dad’s arms on the shore of a pristine beach at the happiest place on Earth, it was unimaginable and unbearable. As one of the professionals who tells the story of Orange County, Florida, I couldn’t comprehend the headlines. How could this be my Orlando? But in the face of these horrific tragedies, my Orlando was nothing less than amazing. People came together like never before. We cried together, hugged one another, held comfort dogs, truly took care of each other … literally kept each other going. I hope I never see that kind of tragedy again for the rest of my life, but in the face of man’s inhumanity to man, I know that I will never forget the care and compassion we all experienced during the worst week in our city’s history. Life is a gift.