Who Knew What?

If my Dad hadn't passed away
six years ago yesterday we would 

have been on the phone in disbelief
at the news coming from Penn State

this week. 
Frankly, his heart would
have been broken....

at how far a man can fall.

It is beyond my comprehension
that crimes as grievous

as this man is accused of could go on for so 

many years with no deeper investigation

to the whispers and pleading accusations

of a few young men over the years.

To know that a student employee observed a

crime in process and for whatever reason was

not able to gain the attention
of his superiors takes me 

back to a time I was witness to a crime.

It was a patient in the
dental office where I worked.

As I passed by the room in which my patient

sat I saw him tucking
a prescription pad into his 

pants pocket.

It happened so fast that
I had to wonder if I had

actually seen what I thought I had seen.

I could have talked myself out of it if it 

weren't that the moment was
so etched into my brain.

The end result was that I
went to the doctors I 

worked for, 

who did the right thing by
confronting the 

patient and calling the police.

That was over a pad of 

paper which only would have 

hurt the one who took it.

Oh, for the sake of the children....

the many, many children
I wish the authorities that 

this grad student had gone to 

would have been so proactive.  

I can only imagine the images 

that must flash through this man's head...

the images that he knows he saw.

The guilt he must live with

each and every day.

I actually feel sorry for him.

Students are trained to leave it 

to the University officials.

Could and should he have done more?

I think so.

But, I understand the environment that 

caused him to remain quiet.

Who would have believed him?

He was likely assured it had been 

dealt with.

The ripple effect of one man's personal

demons.  It goes far and wide.

From the pain of those he has allegedly 

offended to the mighty at the top of a

famous institution.

So.very.sad.

Because of our connections to the

area and so many years lived there

we know people directly impacted by the 

media circus.... and by these actions.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them

as they deal with the pain and disappointment

so recently brought their way.

(((((hugs)))))