On Friday, November 20,1992, my friends from work and I went to lunch. We all talked about our plans for Thanksgiving. Little did I know that within 6 hours I would get a call from the Sheriff’s Office saying “Amy was in an accident”. I asked if she had been in her car, and he said no, she’d been shot.
Unexpectedly the man who shot Amy showed up with a stolen handgun. He was angry at Amy because she was helping his girlfriend and encouraging her to leave that abusive relationship.
Amy was a prankster, and liked to play practical jokes on me, like throwing cold water over the shower and hearing me scream.
She loved family, was loyal to her friends, had an infectious laugh, and reached out to those who were less fortunate than her. Amy ‘s favorite football team was the Chicago Bears. It didn’t matter if they won or lost.
I thought I wouldn’t survive such a loss and grief. Burying your child is something that parents should never face. You may wonder where I find my strength; I gain strength from hearing and reading other survivors’ stories. Walking beside them is an honor.
Genevieve “Jenny” Wieland