Table Mesa King Soopers, where the mass shootings happened almost exactly a year ago, reopened last week.
I avoided the grand reopening ceremony. It was at 9:00 am, and featured the governor of the state and other local officials, as well as Kroger representatives. A marching band quickstepped in, playing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. That’s a detail the news outlets skipped over, but which appeared in a few Instagram stories.
My son went that evening. He said that a young woman burst into tears by the entrance, and her friend led her away.
I finally visited a few days ago. It is resolutely normal. Any possible reminder of the slaughter has been erased.
On the one hand, and on a low level, I am happy to be able to buy beef and broccoli without being assailed by waves of grief. On the other hand, I have a problem with this. It is, in fact, a brutal reminder of how temporary even the largest tragedy can be.
Just Before Dark 