Expectations after triggering events

Yes, in both the secular sobriety and 12-step worlds, as well as in life in general, we're admonished about not packing too much in the way of expectations in our suitcases.

As for "triggering events"? If you're an abuse survivor, specifically one diagnosed with PTSD, you know what I mean there. I've had a few other things that have had me "on edge," or primed to be triggered, to boot — one of which will be my next post here — as well as my recent move.

The actual trigger?

For me, it was covering the worst fatality accident I've been to as a newspaper reporter and editor. Usually in such cases, the body of the person killed has been taken to a morgue, if dead at the scene. And, if they die at a hospital or in transport, that's that.

In this case, the mother of a 19-year-old was called out to the scene. And, making things even worse, she missed her daughter's body being taken by the hearse by no more than two minutes.

I've never heard such a sound — the old English word "keening" came to mind — in my life. Possibly a mother seeing her kid killed by gun violence or in a war would be the same, or even worse. And, since it was a pedestrian-car accident after dark, I'm still not sure that what I thought was roadkill remains bits of a small animal wasn't ...

Anyway, I checked in with friends on Facebook and a couple of online sobriety groups. And, on the professional side, after emailing the owner of our small newspaper group about the proprietary of a certain picture angle and content, the next day, did a follow-up email to her noting that, well, I was somewhat out of sorts.

Without wanting to focus on the negatives, because a number of people did more than just "like" my Facebook page, they responded ...

I was disappointed that not more people in my two online sobriety email groups responded. And that my company owner, who I would consider at least a close acquaintance, if not a semi-friend, didn't respond, either, whether as a friend, or professionally as someone with years of experience in the business herself.