As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches I am reliving that day.  I think we relive that day often; I know I do.  I was at the office when a co-worker spread the news.  Shocked and dumfounded we sought out every radio to be found.  We were a government office, so believe it or not, there was not one television.  That was remedied soon after.  The internet was overcrowded and useless. So we relied on old-fashioned technology ... the radio.

I can still see the face of the boss' secretary.  Usually a tough, no holds barred, tiny woman - her face crumbled and tears fell.  Not usually comfortable with any physical expression, she readily fell into my open arms and cried.  It was scary.  As each plane met its target save one, we looked at each other in disbelief.  This just does not happen in the USA!

I remember while all the events were unfolding that I had an appointment.  The man insisted on keeping it, so I must have listened to his problem with at least one ear.  To this day I can't recall whether I solved his problem or not.  My heart and focus were not in my job that day.  It was not until I got home that I was able to see the images from the day.  The disbelief I had earlier became a shocking reality.  Tom had flown to Canada the day before.  At last, he got a call through.  It was to be 5 days before he could get back home.  

Ten years later, we have everyday reminders of the course that was chosen for our country after that fateful day.  In the intervening years I have often doubted that course ... ah hindsight!  If we just could see into the future a bit!  The numbers mount as the deaths are reported of our service men and women.  They answered the call and did their duty.  Although the leaders who chose the course have not had my support always,  the service men and women have and will always have my support and prayers.   While trying to cure the evils of the world (some of which can never be cured to OUR way of thinking), we have neglected our own home. That has come with a price as well. I certainly don't know the answers to any of it ... but since 9/11 I have tried to be as informed as possible.  Every candidate for every office - national, sate and local - gets as much scrutiny as possible.  And believe me I look behind anyone's rhetoric and try to search out the facts.

It doesn't matter to me whether anyone is affiliated with one party or another.  Frankly, I hate the partisanship of both.  In all my voting life, I have NEVER voted straight ticket.  My votes go all over the ballot.  I vote for the individual on on his/her record.  I have enough Pollyanna in me still to hope someday for a US Congress made up of people who have ALL of the American people in their focus.  That's a tough order, but there it is! Call me a dreamer ... maybe I am, but the day I stop dreaming for a better world, that's the day I die.

So on the anniversary of 9/11, I pray for our troops doing the job presented to them, I pray for our leaders who MUST find an avenue to work together and find the compromises necessary so that ALL Americans can enjoy the liberties and freedoms of this Nation, and I pray for  each of us that we find peace in our hearts and civility in our actions.  And I pray that a day like 9/11 never happens again.

Ten years ago, Noel was sent to Corning, NY in upper state NY, to work on a gas storage project.  He left mid August and I flew up on Thursday Sept 7, 2001 for a visit.  Corning is a beautiful small, quaint township.  Noel was staying at the Radisson and it sits at the edge of the small downtown area called Market Square.  There were dozens of little giftshops, antique shops, eateries, and bars right down the street from the hotel and a little work out gym.  Paige and Dan were dating and they drove up from the city on Friday and spent Friday and Saturday nights, and drove back on Sunday.  We had a fabulous time and of course Big Daddy treated them to everything. 

My return flight was schedule for Monday, Sept 11, 2001 out of Elmira, Ny, a small regional airport about 10 miles from Corning.  It was scheduled to leave around 11:30-12:00.  It connected in Detroit and then on to DFW.  The TV was on as I was finishing packing and I heard Noel say "Chris, looks like a small airplane hit one of the world trade centers"  I looked up and said "That is not a small plane, that is a large building".  I am not a relaxed flyer, so this was not what I wanted to see right before I got on an airplane.  We watched as the second plane flew into the other tower in horror.  Needless to say, I didn't fly out of Ny that morning, in fact, it was Saturday before I could get a flight out.  The scariest part of the morning was not being able to talk to Paige for about an hour.  She was staying in Brooklyn with Dan and they were together.  Dan usually was at work by 8:30, but they were out late and he slept in.  I was thankful that he was with Paige....he's such a calming force for my very highstrung, artistic daughter!  When I finally spoke to her, she said "Mom, they just hit the Pentagon, and I don't know what else is going to happen, so just know that I love you".  

Downstairs in the hotel lobby, a convention was starting.  As people stood around, watching the TV screens, there was a eerie hush.  People were really in shock.  The convention was cancelled.  I was so thankful that I hadn't left yet to come back to Texas, and got to be with Noel for the next few days.  It was comforting. 

As we face the 10 year anniversay this weekend, I pray that there is no other incident.

Bells

In some of the ceremonies for the victims you will hear a bell rung after each name is read or after a portion of the names are read.  This ringing of the bells for the dead is done in Europe and I presume it originated there. 

Anneliese told me about the Totenglöcklein (pronounced "toe-ten-glerk-line) in her small town of Hammelbach in Germany.  It is the smallest of the church tower bells.  When someone in the village dies, this bell is rung for about five minutes.  Villagers pause and try to recall who has been most seriously ill and close to death in the recent days.  Before long, the local grapevine has gotten the news out to the citizens.