It started out as a beautiful day. I had been rear ended the day before and I was still very sore, but I got the kids off to school and took the car into the dealership to get and estimate on the damage. I was sitting in the show room watching the TV and a plane flew into a building in New York and I thought it was a movie, then I realized it was the News. Then another plane appeared and hit a building and I knew we were under attack. I left immediately.
I remember driving home in a state of shock and fear. I dug out my husbands military papers as I knew this meant some kind of war and I wanted to make sure he could or would not be deployed. He was a combat engineer/ surveyor and they are the first to go out to plan strategy and roads. He had been DTY'd twice in our marraige for uprisings in Panama during the Noriega crisis. I did not want him going again. But I realized he was over his time limit and we were okay.
I remember the University calling me as I sat in shock waiting to go pick up the kids from school. They told me to do whatever I wanted about classes that evening. I thought about cancelling, but then I thought, NO!, if we shut down they have won. I will hold classes and whoever comes, comes. I remember being surprised that all 25 of my students arrived. Everyone felt that for the children it was better that life was normal. As adults we were all walking around like zombies.
One of my youngest boys came in with treats for the class and he was crying. When I talked to the mom it seemed that he had brought treats to school for his birthday and the teacher had not given them out and they had not sung happy birthday to him. Everyone was in such a blur. HE was convinced at the ripe old age of 7 that his birthday was ruined and cursed for life.
I remember giving him a hug and telling him, that yes his birthday would be marked, but I was going to remember this day as a good day because he had been born on this day and it was a reason to rejoice. I also told him I would never forget how important this day was to me as he had been born on it. I have called him every year on his birthday. Sometimes he was not home so I sang to an answering machine, when he was in college I embarrassed him with my phone calls. Now he is a father with three kids and I still call him and sing.
It was a very bad day, but we never gave up, I never gave up, and we still have important things to celebrate. Great things, because we are a great country. We will never forget and I will always celebrate the good.
I am off to enjoy the sun and the pool and maybe go out on the kayaks later. TODAY I am going to celebrate the end of summer as next week will be hell!
Have some fun today, give your kids and extra hug, make someone happy, remember the good.
Kim
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