Six years ago, I never thought anything like the attacks would or COULD happen in our country. What a sad day for our country to have to remember. So many innocent lives lost. And for what reason? Our American way of life has not changed. Al Queda has not taken over the U.S. and forced all women to wear burkas and everyone to convert to radical Islam and Bin Laden is living the life of a jackal, hiding in caves like the coward he is. I pray for the day when our soldiers find him and greet him the way they did Saddam . . . "Greetings from President Bush!" How awesome was that! He is getting bold with the new videos he is releasing. In my heart of hearts, I pray he is becoming careless and we will hear the words we have longed to hear for six long years . . . WE HAVE HIM! But I digress.
Six years ago, I was still working for a lawyer in Hales Corners. I was driving to work when I heard on the radio that the top floors of one of the trade towers was on fire. At that point, they (the radio DJ's) didn't know it was from an airplane that crashed into the first tower. Shortly after getting to work, we heard it was an airplane, and then of course, the world watched in horror as the second plane hit. Not much work got done that day, as I spent most of it watching the TV in the office downstairs and listening to updates on the radio. I couldn't wait to get home and hug my husband and children.
Aaron was in 5th grade at the time and came home with a note from school. The school decided to NOT tell anyone but the 5th graders what had happened, leaving it up to parents to tell their kids. Of course, it was difficult for them to understand. Abby was just a baby, at 4 years old, so she doesn't remember any of that day. Erica doesn't remember much, as she was only 7, but I remember sitting down with her and talking with her and trying to answer questions like: "Mommy, why do people want to kill us." I didn't have the answer then, and I don't have the answer now.
The unending news coverage was difficult to watch, but something that we couldn't turn away from. The patriotism and togetherness that our country displayed back then was incredible. The number of flags flown made me proud. I wish we had that same sense of patriotism and togetherness now that we did then. We need to find a way to bring this country back together and have everyone working together towards a common goal. Peace in the world would be wonderful, but I lost my rose-colored glasses a long time ago, so I doubt that's ever going to happen.
What I do know is that:
Six years ago, I was still working for a lawyer in Hales Corners. I was driving to work when I heard on the radio that the top floors of one of the trade towers was on fire. At that point, they (the radio DJ's) didn't know it was from an airplane that crashed into the first tower. Shortly after getting to work, we heard it was an airplane, and then of course, the world watched in horror as the second plane hit. Not much work got done that day, as I spent most of it watching the TV in the office downstairs and listening to updates on the radio. I couldn't wait to get home and hug my husband and children.
Aaron was in 5th grade at the time and came home with a note from school. The school decided to NOT tell anyone but the 5th graders what had happened, leaving it up to parents to tell their kids. Of course, it was difficult for them to understand. Abby was just a baby, at 4 years old, so she doesn't remember any of that day. Erica doesn't remember much, as she was only 7, but I remember sitting down with her and talking with her and trying to answer questions like: "Mommy, why do people want to kill us." I didn't have the answer then, and I don't have the answer now.
The unending news coverage was difficult to watch, but something that we couldn't turn away from. The patriotism and togetherness that our country displayed back then was incredible. The number of flags flown made me proud. I wish we had that same sense of patriotism and togetherness now that we did then. We need to find a way to bring this country back together and have everyone working together towards a common goal. Peace in the world would be wonderful, but I lost my rose-colored glasses a long time ago, so I doubt that's ever going to happen.
What I do know is that:
- We are blessed to live in the most fabulous country in the world where damned near anything is possible!
- We have the greatest men and women in our armed services (including my nephews), who are willing to lay down their lives for us to be able to continue our way of life and gives us the opportunity to do the things we do.
- I am blessed to have three wonderful, beautiful children, especially when it was doubtful we'd have more than one!
- I am blessed to have a husband who has gone to hell and back with his health. We were taught humility and how to ask for help and to learn what it really means to be scared and to put the utmost faith in another human being (the doctors) and praying that God has given them the knowledge and compassion needed to pull us all through the darkest days.
- I am blessed to be able to live in the "middle of nowhere" with my family close by, and of course the dog, cats, chickens, geese & goats! What a treat it is to have all of them surrounding me!
- I am blessed to have wonderful, caring friends who will go out of their way to help when asked, and especially when not asked!
- I am blessed to have the opportunity to travel this fabulous and gorgeous country of ours in the various campers we've had over the years and
- I am blessed to be living the American dream of owning our own business with all the trials and tribulations that entails.
I'm sure there's more, but I must say this . . . I know I am very blessed and thank God every day for all the blessings He has bestowed on us.
I hope anyone reading this can take a moment to step back and think about all the things in their lives that make them truly blessed -- the good and the bad, because truly, as one who has had to deal not once, but twice, with the demon of cancer (Greg's) and the trip to hell and back with his bone marrow transplant, I can tell you, we are truly blessed to have made it through and be where we are today.
Godspeed,
Julie
I hope anyone reading this can take a moment to step back and think about all the things in their lives that make them truly blessed -- the good and the bad, because truly, as one who has had to deal not once, but twice, with the demon of cancer (Greg's) and the trip to hell and back with his bone marrow transplant, I can tell you, we are truly blessed to have made it through and be where we are today.
Godspeed,
Julie
No comments:
Post a Comment