When I got home from work today, this is the reflection I saw. A road, taped down by caution signs preventing me from getting in.
Dozens of armed cops around the neighborhood were also there, preventing me from entering.
A shooting occurred outside of my Los Angeles home today. It was such a big deal that they locked down the street and prevented anyone from coming in. Based on initial conversations with an officer, he said they probably wouldn’t let me in until 10-15 hours later.
Here’s a news report detailing what happened. Long story short – a man armed with a knife got out of his car and encountered officers conducting a traffic stop. Somehow, during the midst of all that, a shooting occurred with the driver having to be rushed to the hospital.
It could have been anyone. It could have been a neighbor. It could have been a friend. It could have been me. This happened at 4:42 PM this afternoon, about 10 minutes before I went home. Had I come home earlier, I could have very easily been a part of the shooting and gotten killed. I’m very blessed to say that I have once again cheated death.
I didn’t panic in that moment though. Instead, I decided to rush home to Garden Grove to get a good night’s rest in time for tomorrow. As a result, I got a nice little prequel birthday dinner in the form of KBBQ from my brother-in-law. We also went to Dollar Tree so I could get some more supplies for Friday’s photo booth. It was as if I was meant to come home today.
If so, I had more time to reflect on my past. Being away from “normal routines”, I had a chance to self-evaluate myself. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I began to understand better who I am as an individual. Somehow, through all the mistakes made in the past, I will try my best to make my family proud and cherish the Tran legacy for as long as I live. My reflection is a reflection of who I am. I hope to keep improving as an individual and to make my reflection something I will be proud of forever.
Why is my reflection someone I don’t know?
Somehow I cannot hide
Who I am, though I’ve tried.
When will my reflection show, who I am, inside?
How I pray, that a time will come,
I can free myself, from their expectations
On that day, I’ll discover someway to be myself,
and to make my family proud.
:O i’m glad you’re ok!