Hello My Forum Friends
You know I've had some stories to share, only fitting I share this one with you on this day.
It really is hard to believe it's been 12 years now, and in some ways it still seems like it happened yesterday. It also seems with every passing year now this day is slowly becoming just another horrific tragic event for the history books. Over the years there have always been signs around towns, countless memorials, plaques, clothing, even cars with bumper stickers, all with images of the World Trade Center on them, along with the words “Never Forget”. It seems as if those words have almost become a slogan for 9/11. I think for those whose lives were forever changed and affected, don’t believe they ever can or will forget.
My neighboring town called Middletown, took a hard hit that day, and lost 37 residents, the worst toll of any town. Can clearly remember the outpouring of brotherly love we all shared for one another. For a while we were no longer a country divided by politics, religion, or race, we became just one race, the human race. It was almost impossible to find a home that didn't have an American flag hanging on it in solidarity.
A group of women volunteered to cook dinner each night for a man in town who lost his wife, and her body was still not found. He had 2 children, boy/girl twins (just like I did) only his children were younger, only 3 years old. He was a stranger to us, but we all took a turn. When it was my turn to bring over my dinner, I will never, ever for the rest of my life forget the look on his face and the words he spoke. Overwhelming grief, and also so much gratitude, for something as simple as dinner. I remember looking over at his two children playing on the floor in childhood innocence, seemingly blessed to me, to not be able to fully understand the magnitude of their loss. That moment taught me something, that the simple act of stranger kindness could really mean so much, to the giver and the receiver. My own Mom's always preaching words had never before hit home harder to me, 'but for the grace of god go I'
This day always seems to trigger very emotional, and terribly frightening memories for me personally, and much worse for my husband. I can remember waiting panic stricken for hours, and hours wondering if I had instantly become a widow that morning, even worse my young children fatherless. I remember my most beloved friend immediately appearing by my side before I even had a chance to call her name. I also vividly remember having a moment of sheer numbing frozen terror, horror, and disbelief watching those Towers actually fall, and thinking what an unimaginable, inconceivable end for my husband. I recall my friend's repeated, reassuring comforting words "He will come home". Fortunately, but for the grace of God, or fate, or just plain luck, whatever you want to call it, my husband did make it out.
Today in the US we are remembering, and honoring once again, the loss of all those who didn’t make it out, and their loved ones who experienced those same emotions, but tragically for them it became their reality. For the 3000 lives lost can only hope that their souls have been at peace, and are in a better place. For the families left behind, also hope that time has helped them to have found some form of peace of mind to carry on.
Tonight when it gets dark, we will drive over to the next town to the beachfront. There is a boardwalk there that faces the City. Across the river you can see the high powered beams of light that go high up into the dark sky every year on this day, in the spot were the Towers once stood. It’s a very relevant sight to see. Every anniversary people come from different towns to look at it. These powerful beams of light seems to evoke the same emotions in all of us because there is always a collective quiet, a respectful remembering silence, as we all stare out over the river.
For me personally, I always try to focus on, and be grateful for what wasn’t lost…more time together as a family… I believe all of us here really do know the meaning of that, and what a precious gift it really is.
Much love
CCxxx
Almost got the picture! but you can view from here.
You know I've had some stories to share, only fitting I share this one with you on this day.
It really is hard to believe it's been 12 years now, and in some ways it still seems like it happened yesterday. It also seems with every passing year now this day is slowly becoming just another horrific tragic event for the history books. Over the years there have always been signs around towns, countless memorials, plaques, clothing, even cars with bumper stickers, all with images of the World Trade Center on them, along with the words “Never Forget”. It seems as if those words have almost become a slogan for 9/11. I think for those whose lives were forever changed and affected, don’t believe they ever can or will forget.
My neighboring town called Middletown, took a hard hit that day, and lost 37 residents, the worst toll of any town. Can clearly remember the outpouring of brotherly love we all shared for one another. For a while we were no longer a country divided by politics, religion, or race, we became just one race, the human race. It was almost impossible to find a home that didn't have an American flag hanging on it in solidarity.
A group of women volunteered to cook dinner each night for a man in town who lost his wife, and her body was still not found. He had 2 children, boy/girl twins (just like I did) only his children were younger, only 3 years old. He was a stranger to us, but we all took a turn. When it was my turn to bring over my dinner, I will never, ever for the rest of my life forget the look on his face and the words he spoke. Overwhelming grief, and also so much gratitude, for something as simple as dinner. I remember looking over at his two children playing on the floor in childhood innocence, seemingly blessed to me, to not be able to fully understand the magnitude of their loss. That moment taught me something, that the simple act of stranger kindness could really mean so much, to the giver and the receiver. My own Mom's always preaching words had never before hit home harder to me, 'but for the grace of god go I'
This day always seems to trigger very emotional, and terribly frightening memories for me personally, and much worse for my husband. I can remember waiting panic stricken for hours, and hours wondering if I had instantly become a widow that morning, even worse my young children fatherless. I remember my most beloved friend immediately appearing by my side before I even had a chance to call her name. I also vividly remember having a moment of sheer numbing frozen terror, horror, and disbelief watching those Towers actually fall, and thinking what an unimaginable, inconceivable end for my husband. I recall my friend's repeated, reassuring comforting words "He will come home". Fortunately, but for the grace of God, or fate, or just plain luck, whatever you want to call it, my husband did make it out.
Today in the US we are remembering, and honoring once again, the loss of all those who didn’t make it out, and their loved ones who experienced those same emotions, but tragically for them it became their reality. For the 3000 lives lost can only hope that their souls have been at peace, and are in a better place. For the families left behind, also hope that time has helped them to have found some form of peace of mind to carry on.
Tonight when it gets dark, we will drive over to the next town to the beachfront. There is a boardwalk there that faces the City. Across the river you can see the high powered beams of light that go high up into the dark sky every year on this day, in the spot were the Towers once stood. It’s a very relevant sight to see. Every anniversary people come from different towns to look at it. These powerful beams of light seems to evoke the same emotions in all of us because there is always a collective quiet, a respectful remembering silence, as we all stare out over the river.
For me personally, I always try to focus on, and be grateful for what wasn’t lost…more time together as a family… I believe all of us here really do know the meaning of that, and what a precious gift it really is.
Much love
CCxxx
Almost got the picture! but you can view from here.
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