March 1, 2010
I took some baby steps this week and started the breakdown of Morgan’s apartment at Virginia Tech. It is a painful process to dismantle your child’s life, especially when I recall all the joy and expectation we had when we moved her in only 18 months ago.
Morgan’s apartment was great; comfortable, quirky and fun. She was the girl who had everything: a great apartment, friends, intelligence and beauty. The only thing she had in limited supply was life – what a short life. What a tremendous waste.
Even thinking of that waste makes my breath choppy – I am only taking baby steps because it is so very difficult and also because I want to go slowly and savor this dismembering of the home Morgan had made. You can learn a lot about someone when you see the environment they create and how they live in it. It makes me happy and proud to see just how on top of things and how together Morgan’s way of living was.
I take my time; enjoy these glimpses of the person she was becoming. Morgan was pretty special at the young age of 20, given the chance to actually grow up she was going to be absolutely phenomenal. Why couldn’t it be?
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So sorry about Morgan and I pray who ever did this is found so he can never do this to another young beautiful woman… I wish their was something I could say that would help you and your Family.. You are all in our thoughts and prayers…. God Bless….jenny
Sending prayers of love, strength and peace as you face this task and blessing. Also sending prayers of gratitude for the young woman Morgan was and for the beautiful family who remains to learn a new way.
I would guess that this is surely one of the hardest parts. First her physical body, then the life that she was building. I bet she would have been a great teacher: very giving, fun and a great example for her students. Somehow, you will find a way to make her leagcy live on. God bless you and your family.
A couple of months ago, I checked your site with the hope of Morgan’s safe return. Today I check it with the hopes that you and your family are working through this tragedy. I’m a father of 4, soon to be 5, and I can’t begin to comprehend what this must be like for you, but I’m always thinking about your family and friends.
Please know that my family in Memphis, Tn keeps you in our thoughts.
Tears in my eyes, dear Gil. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Morgan and her loving family. You are ever present in my prayers.
Also ever present in my prayers is one for whoever did this . . . that they will be found and brought to justice. That they will feel a crushing weight of this atrocious crime and confess.
Morgan has made me so much more aware of young ladies out there alone. I won’t leave them, Gil. I find myself lingering, just to be sure “that one” is ok. Just to be sure they’ve reached their car, that door, or reconnected with someone they appear to know. I don’t think I will ever look at a girl alone again without wanting to be sure she’s ok. My community doesn’t feel as safe as it once did. But my resolve to keep these girls safe is strengthened beyond measure. I am never in so much of a hurry that I can’t take a moment to be sure . . .
So, tonight it’s been confirmed that still another young, beautiful woman has been taken (Chelsea King, CA) and it’s just more than most of us can fathom. My tears fell in waterfalls for Morgan, Polly Klaas, the baby girls, and now Chelsea. We all loved Morgan so very much having gotten to know her through your website; that you’re now having to close parts of her life must be excrutiating for you. Just know that there are so very many people sharing your grief you may never know what an impact it has made and that there are many parents like myself who want very much for this insanity against young women/children to STOP. We love you Gil, Dan & Alex, and hold you up in our prayers several times a day.
Im not sure if this might bring you comfort in the years to come but after losing a friend I wished I had captured the space we shared before I left. I wished I had taken a video of the little things so that now in the years that have passed I have forgotten little things, those sweet little special things that made her who she was. I guess I just thought I would mention, that someday, you may want more of your daughter, and wish you had a video of her apace to remember just a little more of everything that made her so amazing. I hope you at least consider it. I only wish I had.