Where were you when the world stopped turning?
I was in Germany. Dragon had just returned from a deployment. We were in the "getting to know each other" stage. I had my routine, he had his. We were trying to find a way to make it work. We were both busy September 11. He was hanging wall paper and I was working in the yard.
He called me to come inside. My mom was on the phone. "Turn your TV on now. Something terrible has happened."
Mom, can't you just tell me?
NO, I can't. You have to see this to believe it. Go turn your TV on. I'll talk to you latter.
So I go and do it. The only English speaking channels we had were the military network channels. The first tower was burning. I watched as the second plane struck. I watched as the world learned that this was not an accident. I saw my world change in a moment.
I knew this stranger that looked like my husband would be leaving very soon. Possibly the very next day. It didn't matter that he had just gotten back. We were at war. He was home just long enough to help with the birth of our son. Then he was off again. And so our life post 9-11 began.
Put yourself in our shoes for a few minutes. The disaster was bad enough for a civilian. Take a minute and imagine the impact that day had on military families. On fire fighters and EMTs. Put yourself in our shoes and you will understand why I get so upset when someone tries to use this tragedy to make a political statement.
Just don't do it. DON'T ever do it. Save all your political crap for another day. Today is not the day.
Ps. a FB friend learned that lesson the hard way today. oops. lost my temper just a wee bit.
I was working night shift 9:45 to 6:45, had come home and made a quick 'dinner' for myself and my ex. I was 5 months pregnant with my oldest son, and suffered terrible heartburn. The only thing that helped was milk, believe it or not - I know it shouldn't have worked but it did.
ReplyDeleteSo I rose, wearily, poured myself a glass of milk, turned on the tv to watch until the burning subsided, and wondered why in the world it was snowing in NYC in the middle of September. And then watched in horror as that massive cloud rolled down the street like a living, breathing beast, and trying to understand what in the world was happening. Replays clarified and the horror deepened.
I get angry, too. It's about people, it's about children whose parents will never come home, and about people who love each other as much - maybe - as we love our mates, who will forever now be alone. It's about human loss and pain. And when we forget that, when we let the rhetoric overshadow the emotion - people forget, people get weary and wonder why we still have to talk about it. We have to talk about it because the world will never be the same.
I can only imagine what life is like for any family who has a member in harm's way (Military, EMTs, Firefigfhters, Police Officers, etc.) and my heart goes out to all of you who live with that fear. June is right, life will never be the same so we remember those we lost and are thankful for and love the ones we have.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a moving post.
Cat