Today's commute home left me sad, tired and wrung out emotionally and it wasn't because what should have taken me 30 minutes on any given day at 3:00 p.m. took 90 minutes today.
For those who don't know, I work in Oakland, CA. I take a pretty long commute to and from each weekday. On the way in today, I noticed fire engines on the overpasses in Hayward. Lights flashing, pulled over to the side while the firefighters stood watch over the freeway. The first time I saw this, I thought, "Hmmm, wonder what's up." The second time I thought, "Some s*its going down in Hayward." Yes, I am usually this slow in the a.m. In the meantime, cop cars from all around the Bay Area passed by me. It wasn't until the freeway came to a grinding halt where it usually speeds up and I saw a sign that read, "Oakland Coliseum, Exit Hegenberger" that I realized what this was-the memorial for the four fallen Oakland Police officers. And just as I was merging on to 238 to get myself over to 580, my eyes blurred and my heart ached.
On the way home, much was the same except that 580 was bumper to bumper. 511.org informed me that it wasn't due to an accident but because they had shut down parts of 880 (funneling traffic to 580) that was the cause. 880 was shut down so that the families and the funeral procession from the Coliseum could move, without unnecessary delay, back to their homes through the East Bay.
The traffic didn't get to me. For the first time in my life I was alright with heavy traffic. I knew what it was for, and I would gladly do whatever I could to help, even if that just meant stay out of the way and be patient.
What did get to me though, was once I was back on 238 (mid-way home for me) and I saw police cruisers, one right after another, some spaced apart by five or so cars, following in the traffic. Seeing all these men and women who lost such wonderful colleagues.
I don't usually cry during my commute, but my heart grew heavier and the lump in my throat took over and I couldn't hold it back anymore. I said a silent prayer, a thank you to these fallen Police that selflessly protected all of the innocent people in Oakland for so long. I thought about all of the Oakland Police Department and how they have stood in the background of my days: As I commuted while pregnant with Isaac each day, as I walked around Piedmont Avenue looking at the stores or when I'd stop off on Telegraph for some random errand. Or more common still, as I flew through Oakland, along 580, oblivious and in my own world as I pondered the oddities of my life that would later become blog posts. I thought about my two grandmothers, who have lived in East Oakland, one not too far from the site where Officer Dunakin and Officer Hege were gunned down.
In the end, I just came home and sobbed. Sobbed because it was a horrible thing and because no one, especially great souls that spend their lives protecting strangers, deserves to die like that. I sobbed because I am a wife, a daughter and a mother and I can't even begin to imagine the pain of these officer's widows, children and parents.
And I sobbed because there was nothing I could do. Nothing except make space on the road for the car next to me that needed over and later, when I spotted a Highway Patrol officer pulled over with a civilian car, keep a close eye as to what was happening. It may be the mother in me, but I feel the need to watch out for those who watch out for us.
Officer Dunakin, Officer Hege, Officer Romans and Officer Sakai-May you rest in peace and thank you for your years of selfless service and protection.
For more info: Thousands attend funeral for 4 slain officers
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