Arnoud

An acquaintance (business and personal, not close enough to consider a friend, really) was shot and killed the night before last.  He was assassinated in the middle of the night, two shots from a pistol in the head.  I don't know that I've ever known anyone to be assassinated, but it brings up strange emotions.  I knew Arnoud pretty well, we chatted or saw each other at least once a week, and knew that he had made some enemies over the years here.  I believe he was involved in more than just the liquor business, and those other business ventures probably caught up to him in the end.  When I first heard the news, I had feelings of sorrow, of fear, and actually some feelings of relief.  I got chills, had tears in my eyes, and felt a little shaky all at the same time.  After a couple of hours I calmed down, for the most part.  I still feel all of those emotions, but have for the most part just gone on about my business.  I think I now feel mostly compassion for those that knew him well and loved him. 

I find myself not typing everything I want to type.  I choose not to write some out of fear about who might be reading this, and some out of "respect", both for Arnoud and his friends and family.  So, in this post, I am certainly not being totally open.  I guess it takes an acquaintance being assassinated to shut me up a little.