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Feeling Sad
Hearing "Until You Can Forgive" - Chuck Brodsky
Weekend Assignment #128... Five Years On
Weekend Assignment #128: Share your thoughts about 9/11. You can remember back on what you were doing on the day or give some thought to how we think about it today. Thoughts personal, political or philosophical are all up for consideration. Tell us all what you think about when you think about September 11, 2001.
No extra credit this week; thinking about 9/11 should be enough to keep us all occupied. Write it up in your Journal or Blog, and then come back here and leave a link, so we can all share our thoughts together.
I was working at Kohls' Distribution Center; Cliff and I had spent the previous weekend, I believe, with one of my dearest on-line friends, Lona. As I worked, I thought back over the trip to Arkansas, and remembered that my friend had plans to fly to visit a daughter on that day. I vividly recall praying for her safety, and smiling to myself at what a good friend she was. It was a sunny, lovely autumn day, one of those days so perfect that it hurt.
My assistant supervisor approached me, a lovely young speciman of beefcake with (they tell me) pierced nipples... but I digress...
Aaron came around telling us all that an airplane had crashed into the New York World Trade Center.
Well, bad accidents happen, and I didn't think a lot about it except that I knew it was a tragedy.
But then while my co-workers and I were on break, all of us saw, on television, the other tower collapse, and we heard about an airplane crashing in a field, and something about the Pentagon.
My first thought was, "Oh dear, Lona is flying today!"
As it happened, Lona did get stranded in Texas for awhile, but otherwise she was safe.
When I got home, I heard one of my neighbors had gone a bit crazy and threatened his family (he's no longer a neighbor, or I wouldn't be blogging this).
It was just a bad day in general.
That's how I remember September 11, 2001. The next year, I wrote a poem about it:
NINE-ONE-ONE
September 10, 2002
Our dreams of peace were shattered on a clear September day
When confiscated airplanes stole our innocence away.
Our prayers and ceremonies won’t undo the damage done,
But I hope all of us have learned some things from nine-one-one.
I’ve seen the face of terror, and I have just this to say:
Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed; we only have today.
Be kind to those around you. Live and love, and have some fun…
That’s all a part of lessons I have learned from nine-one-one.
I want to hate the terrorists who did those awful deeds,
And yet, the Bible keeps insisting love is what they need:
Lord, help me forgive them for the awful deeds they’ve done.
Forgiveness is a lesson that I learned from nine-one-one.
This year, we’ve done some extra things. I bought a new guitar.
We’ve taken some vacations. I have traveled near and far.
I seen some country concerts: life is sweet, and too soon done,
And I intend to live it! I learned that from nine-one-one.
I’ve seen the face of strangers who would risk their lives for me:
I watched them last September, right on nation-wide TV.
I thank God for their courage: that can never be undone:
Thanksgiving is another lesson learned from nine-one-one.
They say that nothing we go through is totally a loss,
Although a lot of lessons have been bought at dreadful cost.
If we’ll just hold our heads up, then our victory’s begun,
And day-by-day, we’ll see more lessons learned from nine-one-one.
If you'd like to share your memories of that dreadful day, be sure and leave a link to your entry HERE at John Scalzi's blog.
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wonderful poem, thank you for sharing it -Kelly http://journals.aol.com/pixie
dustnme/Inmyopinion/entries/20 06/09/07/weekend-assignment-12 8/1374 -
Excellent post. There are so many things all of us have dealt with since that fateful day. The poem is worth reciting every single year--so none forget.
Thanks for stopping by my journal!
Jess
http://journals.aol.com/aurielalata/CIWTheOtherInvisible -
That was an absolutely beautiful poem. Your post was very good and thoughtful. Thank you. You're welcome to check out mine if you want. Carolyn http://journals.aol.com/lifes
abench6/Noappologies-Biblicalp erspect/ -
Beautiful poem......those ragheads just don't have a clue.
9/11/06 10:47 PM
I was interviewing when it all happened. Naturally we stopped the interview and watched TV, listened to radio and couldn't wait to get home to our families to watch the news and try and put the pieces together as to what on earth happened.