By Mark Azzara
Dear Friend,
The name Orlando is now part of the American vocabulary.
The definition now includes the following: (a.) a city in Florida that is the center of the nation’s 24th largest metropolitan area; (b.) the scene of the nation’s largest mass murder; (c.) “Theme Park Capital of the World”; (d.) a place of unparalleled sadness and grief; (e.) a city with the nickname “City Beautiful;” (f.) ground zero for the ugliness of the risks faced by gays; (g.) home of Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld and Universal Studios Florida theme park; (h.) the topic of unending political debate.
Unlike Sandy Hook, Conn., where 26 children and teachers were slain, we’d all heard about Orlando before this. But the Orlando we once knew will never again be just Orlando. Play time is over for the city of make believe. And for all the rest of us, too.
All God’s blessings – Mark
