MY THOUGHTS TEN YEARS LATER.

A few random thoughts today.

It had become our morning routine.

Around five thirty every morning, Dean would get up and get ready for work.

Just before heading to the backroom to lace up his steel-toed boots, he would softly walk down the hall of our small two bedroom home in Lake Shore to kiss goodbye to our sleeping babies.

Five, almost six year old Brett would sometimes stir under his cowboy blanket and say "bye dad" as Dean kissed him. Little sister Lauren who was three almost four was never in her bunk where we had put her the night before. She would always end up on the top bunk nestled next to Brett. Dean would tousle the hair of our little blondie whom Brett called Erna and then step over to the crib. Every morning for about six months or more Dean would gently pick up one year old baby Wade out of his covers and bring the little chubby, stretching baby back in to my bed. As Dean would leave for work each morning I had the luxury of laying in bed sleeping in and nursing my baby.

That morning of September 11th, 2001 was like most people have said it was. A clear, bight, beautiful morning. I eventually woke up and left Wade in my big bed to sleep. I got some toast and a glass of milk and then put Brett's clothes in the dryer so he could have something to wear to Kindergarten.

Just before I went in to wake Brett up, I heard Tom Barberi on the radio in a panicked voice telling everyone to turn on the TV. I stood in the doorway by the kitchen and turned on the TV with the remote control.

After one or two bites of my toast, the quick reality of what I was seeing on the Today Show of the airplanes crashing into the Twin Towers began to sink in.

Mark Twain once said: "Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today."
No one would have ever guessed that such a wonderful, peaceful morning could hold such tragedy.

I woke Brett up, fixed him some breakfast and continued to be shocked, worried and heartbroken by the things I was seeing on TV. A few moments later Dean called. One of his guys had told him the news. We talked and shared concerns. Dean's concerns were of our food-storage and told me to make sure the car was full of gas. My concerns were of my five year old who was about to walk out the door to catch the bus to Kindergarten.

Dean talked me in to sending Brett to school and said we would re-group at the end of the day.
Not knowing what to say to Brett who had started asking questions, I just reassured him and ushered him out the door.

As we waited for the bus, I had the thought to take a picture.

Wade was already awake and perched on my hip.
I woke up sleeping beauty and placed them all on the front porch and snapped a picture.

A moment in time. September 11th, 2001 approximately 8:24 a.m.  

I love that Lauren is still wondering what in the world I am doing. Wade is chewing on some Cheerios and I feel bad that Brett is sporting his Kindergarten backpack that I got at a yard sale. He hated it because he thought it was too babyish, I wish now that I had gotten him the new Power Rangers one that he wanted.   

Thought # 2 -
Attending this year's Stadium of Fire production here in Provo, Utah was something that I was not too thrilled about. The traffic, the expense, the overproduction of the whole production sometimes gets to me. However there are a few redeeming qualities of the evening. The absolute best part is hearing, then seeing the F-16 jets flying in formation over the stadium. Lump in my throat and chills on the back of my neck every time. At those moments I vow to be a better American and never take for granted the freedom that I have. I took this picture from our nose-bleed seats, one advantage I guess.    

Thought #3 -
While I was in Africa, I was sitting next to my friend Alice as we were waiting for the next session of church to start. I had my camera in my bag and decided to show Alice some pictures of my kids that were still on my camera. As Alice was browsing through my photos, she came across a series of pictures (probably like 30) that I had taken of our flag outside our home on the fourth of July. I remember that on the fourth, just as the kids were begging us to light fireworks, a big, loud wind/rain storm came through. I had decided to open the window, let the breezes in and took pictures of our flag blowing in the wind. It was so beautiful.


 


Little Alice went back and forth on my camera looking at all the flag pictures that I had taken. She pointed to them and asked, "why do you take so many pictures of your flag?" I laughed, embarrassed a bit and then tried to explain that I was just trying to get the flag in the right light and frame etc. Alice cut me off and said "you love your country?" I smiled,"yes I love my country." 
She said "I love your country too."


Thought #4 -
Before September 11th 2001,
      there was September 11th 1997,
               and September 11th 1982,
               and September 11th 1979.

                                       So Happy Birthday today to my beautiful niece Hallie,

   and Happy Birthday to my sweetheart sister-in-law Amber.

And Happiest Birthday wishes to my brave brother LT. Officer Will.
I think it takes a unique kind of person to share their birthday with September 11th 2001. 

Thought #5-     Yesterday I was out and about in Provo running errands. The cashier was a handsome older man with a kind smile. He handed me my bag, then held out something in his hand. I opened mine and he dropped in a red, white and blue wrapped butter mint.
 I looked up at him and he said with a small smile "never forget."
Such a simple, patriotic gesture.
It made me remember that individuals are the very thing that make this country great.
(This chubby hand is Quincy's...not mine.)


Thought #6 -
The days after September 11th, 2001 I kept a constant vigil at my TV watching and waiting to see if the workers at ground zero were able to rescue anyone from the rubble.

                                              Just watching in disbelief. It was a helpless feeling.

In a speech given by Ronald Reagan to the family members of the Space Shuttle Challenger, President Reagan spoke beautiful words that reflect what I feel towards all those who lost loved ones on September 11th, 2001.

"The sacrifice of your loved ones has stirred the soul of our nation and, through the pain, our hearts have been opened to a profound truth--the future is not free, the story of all human progress is one of a struggle against all odds. We learned again that this America, which Abraham Lincoln called the last best hope of man on Earth, was built on heroism and noble sacrifice."

By writing here on my blog about some of my thoughts today, I hope to "never forget."

The following is one of a thousand tribute videos out there. I happen to like this one.

Comments

Roberts said…
Thank-you for sharing your thoughts and the love for our Country. I feel the same.

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