Dear Loyal Readers,

Usually reading brings me comfort. It brings me solace. It brings me clarity. That’s why I’ve been sharing this newsletter with you for almost 7 years.

But not this week. Not after the massacre in Texas.

Right now it doesn’t make sense to publish the articles I’d originally selected for today’s issue. It also doesn’t make sense to share pieces about the shooting, or about gun violence in general, or about how we must act even though we feel helpless and hopeless.

Right now all I want to do is honor the 19 children and two teachers who were murdered inside a fourth grade classroom on Tuesday.

Their names are Uziyah Garcia, Amerie Garza, Xavier Lopez, Tess Mata, Ellie Garcia, Rojelio Torres, Jose Flores, Jailah Silguero, Jayce Luevanos, Nevaeh Bravo, Jackie Cazares, Annabelle Rodriguez, Eliahana Torres, Makenna Lee Elrod, Lexi Rubio, Alithia Ramirez, Miranda Mathis, Maite Yuleana, Layla Salazar, teacher Eva Mireles, and teacher Irma Garcia.

They died after the morning’s honor roll awards ceremony.

Loyal readers, I’ll be back next Thursday. Maybe by then I will have connected with some of you and processed some of my emotions. Maybe by then there will be something to read that will help us move forward.

If you’d like to reach out, please do. I’d appreciate it.

Thank you for being part of this reading community,

Mark