Today was an ordinary Tuesday, although seventeen years ago it was an ordinary Tuesday as well. Or, at least it started out to be an ordinary Tuesday. We stopped at 8:46, and were quiet and still today, remembering that to the minute, exactly seventeen years prior, everything changed.
Today is 9-11, and there was much somber discussion about what the day meant, and what happened those many years ago. It does seem like many years ago now, and yet it doesn't seem like that long ago in some ways. Daddy and Mommy were talking with Madison today about where we were and what we were doing, all that happened that day, and the aftermath that followed too.
It was a dividing line in history for us personally. Although the Civil War and World War II were probably larger historical moments when you look at things at a whole, we're here in this timeline at this moment, and the history of our nation has been relatively calm (again when you compare it to the events above, or others like World War I, the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam, or the Revolutionary War). And right in the midst of this perceived peace, the nation suddenly realized we were at war with people we had no clue were that upset with us. Sure, there's all these crazies out there in the world, and even in this country. But surely no one is that crazy, are they?
That's the mentality before 9-11. Obviously that's a general statement. It's easy to see now how we were all a little leery of all that was going on elsewhere in the world. Terrorist events would be startling, but there was a perception that we were fairly safe where we were, even though that was far from the truth. The truth is that the wall of grace was lifted just a little bit, and we saw just how vulnerable we really were.
The next day the nation went to church with the President, and Billy Graham was there to speak, and many returned to God in a way that echoed the nation of Israel returning to its senses in the Bible, time and again after being beleaguered by enemy attacks.
And yet here we are again, aren't we? I'm not sure if we're any different really as a nation. Everyone was united on 9-12, and yet it didn't take long to fall back into the same pattern that so easily besets us. We're too busy fighting each other to worry about any threats from beyond our borders.
Today is called "Patriot Day," and we read again some transcripts from Flight 93, talked about the bravery of police officers and firefighters, and sat quietly during ceremonies we watched online, reflecting about all that was, and praying silently for a nation of unity and peace. I'm not sure if that will ever happen again, but it's a dream worth fighting for. I think the big thing missing, the secret ingredient to all of this, the reason the political factions fight so furiously here, is that they are missing love. There seems to be a lack of empathy and a willingness to see things from another's viewpoint, and more a war between philosophies, and it has gone beyond words to a place of deliberate hatred and hurt. As cliched as it sounds, love is in fact the answer. Thinking of others first. I used to always think this was so hokey, because my definition of love was initially a self-centered, self-serving one. But quite simply, love is not about "me." It's about others, and there it is. That's the answer: thinking of others first. We don't do that like we used to, and perhaps if we did that more - just like the heroes of 9-11 seventeen years ago - perhaps this nation would be a better place. And beyond the importance of remembrance, perhaps that's the real message of Patriot Day.
Today was an ordinary day, which is what we were told to do after 9-11, to go on with our lives and live like normal. We did remember, and we did stop several times throughout the day to observe live footage of ceremonies in Pennsylvania, or listen to the names of victims called out in New York.
But Nana and Ba-Ba were here, and we also went to Goodwill, because this ordinary Tuesday is ordinarily Senior Discount Day. And that's a big deal, so by gum, there was plenty of shopping to be done here. It's like Disney World for the grandparents, who come up here to North Georgia for other more important reasons like doctor's appointments, but secretly I think the real drive behind them wanting to come up is the "Tour of Goodwills." We apparently have much better Goodwill stores in Georgia than Florida. It's a pleasant day of shopping for Mommy and her parents, and today there was a bit of booty that came back: all sorts of new clothing for Madison, and a Boba Fett ball cap for Daddy. We loved it, and were glad everyone had a good time.
Tonight, of course, we went to the dojo. The Grandparents came along too, looking out the observation window and watching Madison punch and strike. They enjoyed it quite a bit, seeing Madison train to become a cage fighter!
We got home and saw the updates of the storm coming to the Carolinas. It looks as if the impact on us will be minimal, although it was initially supposed to be much more minimal than that. Hurricane Florence is shifting south, and then is projected to scoot up north. I won't say it's "barreling" anywhere. This storm seems to be "meandering." But that's a problem, because "meandering" means it is taking its time, not really going anywhere in a hurry. And all the while, it'll drop a lot of rain. That means problems for the Carolinas.
Madison was studying for her math test tonight, so we didn't have much time for anything else. We did read, of course. We can't avoid that. Daddy worked on the mansion, and Mommy was spending a lot of time talking with Nana and Ba-Ba, of course. All is well, and we're grateful to have the family here.
Today is 9-11, and there was much somber discussion about what the day meant, and what happened those many years ago. It does seem like many years ago now, and yet it doesn't seem like that long ago in some ways. Daddy and Mommy were talking with Madison today about where we were and what we were doing, all that happened that day, and the aftermath that followed too.
It was a dividing line in history for us personally. Although the Civil War and World War II were probably larger historical moments when you look at things at a whole, we're here in this timeline at this moment, and the history of our nation has been relatively calm (again when you compare it to the events above, or others like World War I, the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam, or the Revolutionary War). And right in the midst of this perceived peace, the nation suddenly realized we were at war with people we had no clue were that upset with us. Sure, there's all these crazies out there in the world, and even in this country. But surely no one is that crazy, are they?
That's the mentality before 9-11. Obviously that's a general statement. It's easy to see now how we were all a little leery of all that was going on elsewhere in the world. Terrorist events would be startling, but there was a perception that we were fairly safe where we were, even though that was far from the truth. The truth is that the wall of grace was lifted just a little bit, and we saw just how vulnerable we really were.
The next day the nation went to church with the President, and Billy Graham was there to speak, and many returned to God in a way that echoed the nation of Israel returning to its senses in the Bible, time and again after being beleaguered by enemy attacks.
And yet here we are again, aren't we? I'm not sure if we're any different really as a nation. Everyone was united on 9-12, and yet it didn't take long to fall back into the same pattern that so easily besets us. We're too busy fighting each other to worry about any threats from beyond our borders.
Today is called "Patriot Day," and we read again some transcripts from Flight 93, talked about the bravery of police officers and firefighters, and sat quietly during ceremonies we watched online, reflecting about all that was, and praying silently for a nation of unity and peace. I'm not sure if that will ever happen again, but it's a dream worth fighting for. I think the big thing missing, the secret ingredient to all of this, the reason the political factions fight so furiously here, is that they are missing love. There seems to be a lack of empathy and a willingness to see things from another's viewpoint, and more a war between philosophies, and it has gone beyond words to a place of deliberate hatred and hurt. As cliched as it sounds, love is in fact the answer. Thinking of others first. I used to always think this was so hokey, because my definition of love was initially a self-centered, self-serving one. But quite simply, love is not about "me." It's about others, and there it is. That's the answer: thinking of others first. We don't do that like we used to, and perhaps if we did that more - just like the heroes of 9-11 seventeen years ago - perhaps this nation would be a better place. And beyond the importance of remembrance, perhaps that's the real message of Patriot Day.
Today was an ordinary day, which is what we were told to do after 9-11, to go on with our lives and live like normal. We did remember, and we did stop several times throughout the day to observe live footage of ceremonies in Pennsylvania, or listen to the names of victims called out in New York.
But Nana and Ba-Ba were here, and we also went to Goodwill, because this ordinary Tuesday is ordinarily Senior Discount Day. And that's a big deal, so by gum, there was plenty of shopping to be done here. It's like Disney World for the grandparents, who come up here to North Georgia for other more important reasons like doctor's appointments, but secretly I think the real drive behind them wanting to come up is the "Tour of Goodwills." We apparently have much better Goodwill stores in Georgia than Florida. It's a pleasant day of shopping for Mommy and her parents, and today there was a bit of booty that came back: all sorts of new clothing for Madison, and a Boba Fett ball cap for Daddy. We loved it, and were glad everyone had a good time.
Tonight, of course, we went to the dojo. The Grandparents came along too, looking out the observation window and watching Madison punch and strike. They enjoyed it quite a bit, seeing Madison train to become a cage fighter!
We got home and saw the updates of the storm coming to the Carolinas. It looks as if the impact on us will be minimal, although it was initially supposed to be much more minimal than that. Hurricane Florence is shifting south, and then is projected to scoot up north. I won't say it's "barreling" anywhere. This storm seems to be "meandering." But that's a problem, because "meandering" means it is taking its time, not really going anywhere in a hurry. And all the while, it'll drop a lot of rain. That means problems for the Carolinas.
Madison was studying for her math test tonight, so we didn't have much time for anything else. We did read, of course. We can't avoid that. Daddy worked on the mansion, and Mommy was spending a lot of time talking with Nana and Ba-Ba, of course. All is well, and we're grateful to have the family here.
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