Remember 9-11

 

I like the Auden poem for any salute to the  dead. 

Wednesday Whatever - jujitsu, toes, and remember

I did not do an official post on Monday 9-11. It was a day of remembrance, of solemn vows, and it's hard to believe it has been twenty two years.  I am saluting  that day and I do believe this should be taught in school. It is a day of history that was a pivotal turning point for America.  

Meanwhile - here's our future. Two kick butt little girls who did great in  a jujitsu tournament. Skylar on the left got silver. Dakota on the  right got gold.  These are Kevin and Maria's youngest. Well rounded - they do well in school. And they are fearless. 

And here's the joy  that is in America.  Yes - Ray chose a Dallas Cowboy football salute for  this pedicure. We had a fun time with Chris and Krystal. I only got  blue. 

Crazy whatever Wednesday. 
 

Twenty Years Later - 9/11

 Ray and I were in New York City in 2001.  We had a fabulous week full of theater, sports, museums, history, and food - so much food. We had walked around the World Trade Center area, waving at window washers, craning our necks to look up, up, up......  We flew back to Texas on 9/1. 

September 11, 2001 dawned with a lovely Tuesday morning. I was driving to work in Dallas when KISS FM (mostly pop talk and fun radio) announced a news bulletin - a plane, maybe, had flown into the World Trade Center tower.  Say what?

Got to work and a few others dragged a very small television out to turn on the news. We watched in horror as the morning unfolded. And when those towers crashed down, down, down, we were all shaken. 

No cell phones. On the regular work landline, I called Ray at his work. He said, "Wow, this is just crazy. We were just there." 

 And yes, I tried to explain to fellow workers, how big these buildings were, how many people could be affected. It was beyond fathom. 

It is still beyond words.  Twenty years later and I remember 9/11 2001 like yesterday. 

Now, a guy at my workplace is only 21 years old. He has no clue, no earthly idea of the enormity of that day.  The world changed. History turned a huge page and we have never been the same. 

Like many pivotal times, the stories are still being written, the salutes are done, and yet it's never enough. 

We must remember and learn and reflect. 

Peace

September 11th

 

 

I still don't understand
I don't think it's possible to understand

words fail

World Trade Center, Pentagon, Shanksville PA
I bow my head in tribute


9-11

Happy 4th of July/ Oh Canada Day - July 1st

 I am back in the United States and ready to celebrate July 4th on Thursday. But I'm going to start boring you with my Canada pics.  Je me souviens is the motto for Quebec and it means I remember ...as in culture, sacrifice, and history. I think it neatly applies to America too. I remember and shall honor history.

 The Citadelle in Quebec offers 300 years of military history.  It's the largest fortification built by the British in North America with a strategic position overlooking the St.Lawrence river. It is an active military garrison for the Royal 22nd Regiment.

 I was very impressed with their museum tribute to the Canadian peace keeping troops in Afghanistan. I've not seen this in the United States. Kudos to our friends in Canada.

 The weather on Friday and Saturday was rather horrific - crazy wind, some rain, etc. Thus the big changing of the guard ceremony was cancelled. But we were lucky to catch the mini-change. These young men are somber and strict in their formality. Tight formation and ceremony.

So, Happy 4th in the United States and Happy Canada Day back on July 1st. I learned a lot about our friends to the north and definitely thank them for our friendship.  (and the fireworks Monday evening were spectacular)

September 11th Resonates

I'm optimistic about the future, but not about the future of this civilization. I'm optimistic about the civilization which will replace this one - James Baldwin  1970

The age has an engine, but no engineer - Ralph Waldo Emerson 1854

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structure - John F. Kennedy  1963

9/11 - Today and Ten Years Ago

September 11, 2011. It's a quiet Sunday. Blue skies. Ray's settling in for a day of NFL television viewing. His exercise will be running outside to the grill - slow cooking some pork ribs. I've got U.S.Open Tennis Women's Final dvr'd (ten years ago, I'd be taping, now DVR is a verb). He hosted his monthly poker crew last night (and won 3rd place). Today we straightened up, vacuumed, and I just completed our laundry loads. Life at the Faries household - all the "new normal", kinda the same as the old. But is it?

One year ago August, Linda T. and I visited New York City. We enjoyed fabulous weather, yummy meals, superb theater musical, and a visit to the World Trade Center site. This statue is outside of Trinity Church. We had hushed moments, and also were amazed at the hustle bustle energy of new construction.

Ten years ago, 2001, Ray and I spent a week enjoying New York City - US Open tennis, Mets, Yankees, bagels, and pizza. We left the city on September 1st. On September 11th, we watched television in horror - the towers coming down, the areas we walked cloaked in smoldering ruin.

My sister visited NYC that October - took the train up from Delaware and enjoyed the hospitality of a city still in shock, but hardy and welcoming and encouraging and friendly. She bought me this FDNY t-shirt, and I'm wearing it today to honor the firefighters, the first responders, the victims, and the survivors.

Ten years later, we still remember and yet so much has happened. Two sons became Marines, did their duty, and are now employed civilians utilizing skills learned from Uncle Sam. I've changed jobs. Ray's changed jobs. Our 401k plummeted this Friday - see nothing has changed.

Ray's grandparents are gone. Other friends and family have passed. Everyone's a little older, a little grayer (and yes, that includes Ray and me). Ten years encompasses so much LIFE.

9/11 tributes today and in the future bring tears to the eyes and cheers for America. The Statue of Liberty still stands proud in New York's harbor, sends a message of hope and peace and welcomes huddled masses.

United States of America ... liberty and justice for all.