---

 [ SAY WHAT? ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=376)

#  Softball, Law School, A Little Chocolate With Breakfast

June 02 2022

Written by Abby Zimet.

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2022/044w.jpg)

SAY WHAT? - The pitiless news cycle lurches on. Trauma fatigue [**sets in**](https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216748901), and much of a weary, heartsick, willfully unheeding America - too awful, too often, we hate it here, let's watch a movie, clearly it's hopeless - moves on. But lest we forget: For the [**families ](https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/25/uvalde-school-shooting-victims/)in Ulvade planning funerals not vacations, for all the families of all the dead in all the horrors gone too soon, a cavernous hollow remains. The [**obituary**](https://www.rekfunerals.com/obituary/AlexandriaLexi-Rubio?fbclid=IwAR2Jt_GDbVy-l_9sErGWLUI8FtLvcSHKF91wjh_7nBUy7TCB7ksdylCiqVw) for Alexandria Aniyah "Lexi" Rubio, 10, makes the devastation achingly real, makes Lexi, as her grieving father devoutly wishes, "not just a number." The daughter of a journalist and a deputy with the sheriff's office, Lexi was "driven, athletic, intelligent and fun." Now, the obituary declares to the mournful accompaniment of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," her visitation hours and prayer service will be June 10 at the mortuary; her funeral service will be June 11 at the First Baptist Church, followed by interment at Hillcrest Cemetery.

As a 4th grader, [**it goes on,**](https://www.rekfunerals.com/obituary/AlexandriaLexi-Rubio?fbclid=IwAR2Jt_GDbVy-l_9sErGWLUI8FtLvcSHKF91wjh_7nBUy7TCB7ksdylCiqVw) Lexi hoped to earn a softball scholarship to St. Mary's University, where her mom Kimberly goes; she planned to major in math and become a lawyer. Like her father Felix, she played softball and basketball; he practiced with her. She was "opinionated and an impassioned debater, just like her mother," and she loved her five siblings, who called her "fierce. She liked popcorn with cheese, mint chocolate chip ice cream, pasta with Alfredo sauce, her own weird "Lexi burger," and "a little chocolate with breakfast helped start the day out right." She liked to bake cookies and talk on the phone with friends. She admired AOC, wanted to visit Australia and live where it snowed. She loved bright colors, turquoise to purple to yellow, and her family "hopes those mourning Alexandria will wear brightly colored clothing in her honor." Lexi had a large extended [**family;**](https://time.com/6182473/lexi-rubio-uvalde-shooting-victim/) her pallbearers will be her brothers, grandfathers, uncle and cousin.

"My beautiful, smart Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award,"[ wrote**](https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.matarubio) Kimberly on *Facebook* the day of Lexi's murder. *"*We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was good-bye." About 30 minutes after they left, the gunman opened fire. Off-duty that day, Felix [**rushed ](https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/05/28/uvalde-deputy-attended-daughters-award-ceremony-hours-before-responding-to-shooting-my-heart-drops/)to the school, stood outside in the chaos, started to inch inside: "I see where everybody's posted - in front of my baby girl's two doors...I see them open the doors and open fire...My heart drops." They drove to the civic center where distraught parents were told to await schoolbuses. Their son arrived safe; they looked for Lexi, "bus after bus," they tried the hospital, Kimberley's father drove to the San Antonio hospital where some kids were taken. Finally, they got the news.

"I don't know how to live without you, baby," [**wrote ](https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.matarubio)Kimberly a few days later. "And, honestly, I don't even want to." Still, she and Felix are tearfully [**speaking out ](https://abcnews.go.com/US/parents-child-killed-shooting-refused-meet-texas-governor/story?id=85039979)against assault weapons, “and this is not because of what happened with our child - we have always had this opinion, and so did Lexi." "We live in this really small town in this red state, and everyone keeps telling us it's not the time to be political, but [**it is ](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/05/31/i-approve-message-campaign-ad-mashup-exposes-gun-obsessed-gop)- it is," she [**said ](https://abcnews.go.com/US/parents-child-killed-shooting-refused-meet-texas-governor/story?id=85039979)through tears. "Don’t let this happen to anybody else." Haunted by "'what ifs," she has no interest in the disastrous police response or "somebody else's mistakes, because I already have to live with my own...I left my baby at that school." But they refused to meet with the deeply [**complicit ](https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1531652535408381953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1531652535408381953%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wonkette.com%2Fbeto-orourke-just-kindly-reminding-texas-voters-that-gov-greg-abbott-aint-s-t)Gov. Greg Abbott. "My first thought was, 'My Lexi doesn't even like him,'" she said. "She wanted to be a lawyer, she wanted to make a difference, and I want that for her now. She still can."

From [**Vox Populi**](https://voxpopulisphere.com/2022/05/31/richard-hoffman-uvalde-tx-5-24-2022/):

**Richard Hoffman: Uvalde, TX, 5/24/2022**

Another.

No not another, not

that cushion

of a word.

Yesterday

with my granddaughter, 3:

we lay on our bellies

on the warm pavement

watching ants.

Look look

that one’s carrying something.

*That his dead*

*brother he*

*bringing him home.*

*([**Abby Zimet**](https://www.commondreams.org/author/abby-zimet) has written CD's **[Further](https://www.commondreams.org/further)** column since 2008. A longtime, award-winning journalist, involved in women's, labor, anti-war, social justice and refugee rights issues. Email: <azimet18@gmail.com>)*

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays &amp; Thursdays

 Email

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/20/070h-20f29015.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33277:trump-world-from-assassination-abroad-to-chaos-at-home&catid=395)

### [Trump World. From Assassination Abroad to Chaos at Home](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33277:trump-world-from-assassination-abroad-to-chaos-at-home&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - We’re at a moment when all sorts of political questions are coming to a head. And if that old phrase…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ed/068d-ed5f9acd.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33261:zuckerberg-may-finally-pay-a-price-for-preying-on-our-children&catid=375)

### [Zuckerberg May Finally Pay a Price for Preying on Our Children](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33261:zuckerberg-may-finally-pay-a-price-for-preying-on-our-children&catid=375)

IN MY VIEW - As a mother of two children who has often been on the losing side of family battles against screen time, I…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4b/070i-4ba64015.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

### [Newsom’s Next Immigration Gamble: Defy Federal Law And Dare Washington To Fight Back](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33283:newsoms-next-immigration-gamble-defy-federal-law-and-dare-washington-to-fight-back&catid=375)

MY THOUGHTS - Gov. Gavin Newsom is about to decide whether California should take another extraordinary gamble with fed…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/27/070e-279910b9.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33275:nithya-raman-has-yet-to-address-hasan-pikers-antisemitism-controversy&catid=375)

### [Nithya Raman Has Yet to Address Hasan Piker’s Antisemitism Controversy](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33275:nithya-raman-has-yet-to-address-hasan-pikers-antisemitism-controversy&catid=375)

THE VIEW FROM HERE - While it was outrageous that in May 2026 CD 4 councilmember and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman end…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a9/070g-a9407aaa.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33278:they-said-it-made-no-sense-then-they-voted-yes&catid=327)

### [They Said It Made No Sense. Then They Voted Yes.](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33278:they-said-it-made-no-sense-then-they-voted-yes&catid=327)

INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS - Sacramento has streamlined housing approvals so aggressively that residents rarely get a heari…

---

##  [ SAY WHAT? ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Nov-2024/093p.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29907:oh-for-f-ks-sake&catid=376)### [Oh For F\*\*k's Sake](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29907:oh-for-f-ks-sake&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Oct-2024/082n.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29692:a-monument-to-cruelty&catid=376)### [A Monument To Cruelty](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29692:a-monument-to-cruelty&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2024/074i.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29532:omg-now-theyre-coming-for-our-cats-and-chairs-and-ducks&catid=376)### [OMG Now They're Coming For Our Cats and Chairs and Ducks](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29532:omg-now-theyre-coming-for-our-cats-and-chairs-and-ducks&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2024/049m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29066:shame-shame-shame-martha-ann-is-an-ungodly-piece-of-work&catid=376)### [Shame, Shame, Shame: Martha-Ann Is an Ungodly Piece of Work](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29066:shame-shame-shame-martha-ann-is-an-ungodly-piece-of-work&catid=376)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2024/038r.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28868:they-walk-among-us-mississippi-goddamn-still&catid=376)### [They Walk Among Us: Mississippi Goddamn, Still](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28868:they-walk-among-us-mississippi-goddamn-still&catid=376)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>