Here's my "Where were you at on 9/11" story.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001.   A beautiful early fall day.   Clear skies.    I drove my happy, almost 4 year old to preschool.   I usually attended a Bible class at our church on Tuesday mornings, but this day, I decided that I really didn’t feel like it.   I treated myself to a sausage biscuit and headed home.  The car radio was on and the announcer was rattling about something happening.  They were obviously confused to the details and I didn’t know if something was happening locally or where.  I flipped on the little kitchen TV to “Good Morning America” as I sat down to have breakfast.   As people did everywhere, I stared at the screen in disbelief.  They kept showing film of Tower 1 on fire.   They said that a plane hit it.  I wondered if the pilot was ill.  How could this “accident” happen?  Then they showed film of the plane actually hitting the tower.  Only this wasn’t a film but live TV showing the second plane hitting the other tower.  Huh?   How could two planes go off course like that?  Terrorists really didn’t enter my mind.  This is the United States.  That stuff doesn’t happen there. 

I sat there and watched for a little while.  I called my husband who had started a new job that day.  (Ironically, he was hired to work on government accounts.  The events of this day changed that plan and he would soon be laid off.)   Then it came over me that I wanted to go to our church.  I felt drawn to be with there for comfort.  I didn’t know if anyone would be there or if they would be there and not know what was going on.   The place was full.   We talked, we prayed; we cried, and we prayed some more.   A television was brought into an adjoining room and some watched and kept us apprised as we did all that we could.  We got on our knees and prayed for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  We heard about the Pentagon.  I have a niece, nephew and cousin in DC.  Everyone seemed to know someone.    Then we heard that there was an airplane in the air that was not responding and that there were orders to shoot it down.   Huh?  What about all of those innocent people?  What’s going on here?

I left there and did what mother’s do.  I wanted my chicks close to me.   I went to preschool and picked up my little one.  I went by my other son’s school to check on him.  He was doing fine and I made the decision that it would be more disruptive to him to take him out early.  I went home and parked in front of the television watching the same videos over and over.  In the days that followed, there would be psychologists telling parents to limit the media that their children were exposed to.  I was already there myself from media overload and feeling depressed.  I kept seeing the people looking for their loved ones and putting myself in their place.  There was also the reality that there would be nothing for some of these people to find.

This was one of those days that change how we go forward.  Our comfort zone was invaded.  We felt helpless and small.   In those days, we are reminded that we are not in charge.  God is.  The devil may be attacking, but God is still in charge.  We need to trust and keep focused.  Just a reminder.

It happened 10 years ago.

September 11, 2001, aka 9/11.   So famous, or maybe infamous, that you don't even have to say the whole date.  Kind of like Cher, Madonna, Ga-Ga....yet VERY different.  A day that changed the world as we knew it.  For Americans, it was very personal.  THEY came here.  THEY attacked US on our homeland.  We lost our innocence.  We lost our comfort zone.  Other countries saw that if it could happen here, it could also happen to them.   Just for a moment, the world seemed to stand still as we collectively held our breath; lost as to what would happen next.

The marvels of technology immediately brought this all into our homes.  Most of us were eye witnesses.  I remember watching the second plane hit and thinking it was a video of the first.   We heard the stories of valor and bravery.  Everyday people were suddenly leaders and heroes.  (John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.")   We heard the stories of a "destiny" changed  due to stopping at a drug store, missing a train, a child's first day of kindergarten.   We cried in sympathy for the loved ones lost.  We grieved for the children to come that would never feel the touch of Daddy.  The stories became known and personal to us.

Our daily lives changed.  Travelling will never be the same.  Agencies such as "Homeland Security" were formed.  Boarding an airplane took more time and got more complicated.  Suddenly, we were ultra aware of people around us; especially if they did not look like us.  Companies closed or scaled down due to uncertainty.  People lost jobs.  Commodities became more expensive.  Along with "stranger danger" and "stop, drop and roll", children learned of terrorists and not to use the word "bomb" on an airplane.    

Yes, the world changed that day.  So did we.  Actually, I hope that we never go back to where we once were.  We need to remember.  Along with the reality of all the horrors of those days, a new America was born.  Flag waving, proud Americans.  ONE nation under God.  Our flag suddenly looked a little brighter, more beautiful and a little more precious.  You will not hold us down.  Let's Roll!" was a new mantra.  We became just a little more proud and aware of the men and women who bravely serve in our military.  Have you ever stopped someone in a military uniform and thanked them for their service?  I have.  I don't remember doing that much before but now I just have to give them my meager "this will never be enough of a thank you for your service".

We have to remember lessons learned.  Such as ALWAYS remember to say "I love you". Don't take for granted that we will have lots of chances to.   Disasters can bring out the best in people.  Ten years ago, New York was flooded with people wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to help.  That attitude needs to continue.  Our children need to see and learn from our example.  We are not by ourselves.  Be kind.   Be smart.  Be proud.   WE MUST NEVER FORGET.

Later.

My friend has cancer.

My friend has the big "C". Challenge? Confusion? Cause? Crusade? Crud? Cowlick? Yes to all, except maybe cowlick. My friend has cancer. Not the words that anyone wants to hear. But what do you do? Cry? Of course. Be sad and then mad. Yep! Talk it out with friends and family to try to make sense of this and then comfort and encourage them? That's what we do. We are women...hear us roar. We may bitch a little, or a lot. But YES, we roar.

My friend is a beautiful woman. Will she lose the eyes that have such a beautiful vision of the world? No. Will she lose the ears that listen to others wanting to understand their position? Seriously? She's not a squeeze toy that the eyes pop out when the pressure is on.  She's a woman.

Will she lose her sense of humor? Probably some days. She is such a positive person, that I don't expect it to be many. Besides, she has a host of strange friends to keep her smiling. How can you not smile. We love her. Besides, she's a woman. That's what she does.

Will she lose that beautiful "longer" hair? 'Fraid so. But you know, I hear bald is the new black. (Boy was that lame! Sorry.) Anyway, scarves are totally chic now days and wow is there a beautiful selection. Don't forget wigs! Black women have rocked them for years. You can always go check out the Kim Zolciak line of wigs. (If you don't know who that is, check out the "Real Housewives of Atlanta". Just don't copy her boob job. Please!) Personally, I have always loved seeing women just go au naturelle with their heads though. They look beautiful and strong and free. Besides, bald is beautiful. Why should only the men get the good stuff. Bald IS beautiful. Recognize this beautiful head?

Will she lose a breast?  Yep.  A friend of mine has a t-shirt that says "Save the Ta-Ta's".   Wonder if we could find one that reads "Save the Ta-Ta"?  I'm just talking out loud here.  Boobs are so over rated.  For goodness sake.  You also call a stupid person a "boob".   Have you ever been running on the beach and have those things bouncing up and down?   Me neither, but I bet it hurts.   I have sat in the massage chair while getting a pedicure and looked down to see the glands shaking like Jello.  Not attractive. 

Anywho, this woman is a hero.   Not because she has cancer right now.  That part sucks.  But because she is smart, strong, healthy and a spitfire.   She will soon be past this and encouraging and helping other women on this journey.  She's a Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister and faithful friend.  Yep, my friend has cancer.   But that doesn't define her.

Later.

I'm off to join the circus.

"Goodbye" she said. "I'm off to join the circus."

This is the cover graphic I added to my computer case. Like it? I found it a few months ago and thought it was totally me. It does make me smile.

I took my son to register for school yesterday. Is the summer break actually almost over? We have crammed so much into the last couple of months. What happened to the lazy days of summer. I sure could use one...or seven.

On another note, we went to see "Cowboys and Aliens" yesterday afternoon. I had really looked forward to it. With Indiana Jones and James Bond in it, how could it not be great? Disappointment. We went with several members of my son's youth group. Only the younger teens actually liked it. Great company; not so great flick. That's my review anyway.

So yesterday I wrote about a pretend (soap opera) life. Today, the ugly truth. #1 son had surgery on his hand. Really concerned about him and pain meds. He does need some, but he is an addict. Also, he is in need of money. He has been hitting us up and trying to play both of us. That's always fun. He got in his car the other night (that he doesn't have a license to drive due to two DUIs), ran over something, bent two rims and lost a tire. He got into a fight and messed up his splint/cast. He took it off himself. The doctor had told him how important it was to keep it still and not re-tear the ligament. The house that they rented is in a tough part of town. With his big mouth, things are not going to well there either. This past weekend emotions ran high. He had all kinds of plans running from moving to Minnesota to live with his birth-grandfather that he has spoken on the phone once with; calling a cousin and asking for a gun; looking for multiple AA meetings to go to; to going back to an employer who used him before and still owes him money, etc. The AA meetings was the only idea that was reasonable. I just hope his intentions are pure and that he will follow through.

I wrote that I was tagging along with hub on a business trip. We left last Sunday and had a nice trip. I accompanied him to a couple of opening sessions on Monday since I work for the same company. Then I went back to the room; took a nap and freshened up for dinner. Hub and another district manager took about 20 clients to a fabulous restaurant. Really different and really yummy! What a good day! Tuesday was to be "my day"; or so I thought. Started out great with sleeping in and then ordering room service breakfast. Leisurely got ready and scoped out on the internet as to where all I wanted to go. I've been having some real pain in my knee which I had been self-treating with ibuprophen. I noticed that it was a little worse as I was walking down to the elevators. It was close to time for Hub to be breaking for lunch, so I decided to wander down there to see how his presentations were going. On the way, something buckled in my knee and I could go no farther. I sat down at the nearest table as I could put no weight on my leg. Hub came out and he brought both of us lunch over to that table thinking it would get better. Oh and while I was there, I made the faux pas of asking a lady, who was going to sit down with us for lunch, to get me a water. Hub gave me a strange look and I later found out that she was the Senior Executive Vice President. Oops! She had just flown in for the day and I had never met her. Oh, well. She was kind. Anywho, I got to ride in a wheelchair back to the room (no drama) and asked Hub to take me to the hospital when he was through with his last session. I wasn't in pain unless I tried to move my leg or walk. The ER just put a leg immobilizer on me, gave me crutches and meds for swelling and pain. They told me to contact an ortho as soon as I returned. That night was suppose to be the big dinner and casino night. I had been looking forward to casino night. :( I had Wendy's in the car on the way to the hotel from the hospital. Instead of staying an extra day, we came home a day early. Saw an ortho; had a MRI on Friday; got results Monday and will see ortho again next Monday when he gets off vacation. MRI shows a torn meniscus, a cyst and arthritis. It is getting much better. I'm down to one crutch. Nurse said that this usually means surgery but we will see what the doc says. Hate to get so much better to go back. Hub says he doesn't want me to go to any more meetings with him. :( I had planned to go to New Orleans with him in November. Surely, he will forget before then.

Hub is out this week. Probably good for both of us. I have plenty to keep me busy and #2 is here again.

Guess it is time for me to put on my big girl panties and get on with things.

Later.

Soap Opera or Real Life?

I always thought that my life was a bit of a soap opera. Probably most of you would say the same things. Especially if you have a spouse, children, a job, a pets, a life....well, you get the picture. But right now I seriously wish my life was a little more of a soap. Not just any soap though. I am a die hard All My Children fan. I have watched AMC pretty much since it began. Since we were probably the last family in America to acquire a VCR, it was sometimes hard to keep up with the storylines, but as a dedicated fan, I did okay. Sometimes I scheduled appointments around my TV schedule. Yes, I must confess that I have been known to pick up a Soap Digest while waiting in line at the grocery store; check out the spoilers for AMC, and then put it back. That's right I did it. A DVR rocked my world though. Haven't missed one since. Before you send people in white coats to pick me up and take me to a 12-step program for TV addicts, I have to share with you that All My Children is going off the air in September. Take a moment. Sniff...

As much as I will miss my pretend friends of AMC, I have to share with you how they are ending this. It was only announced a couple of months ago that the show would not be continued. That left a lot of loose ends and storylines that needed to be settled. So what did they do? They had the main character sent to the mental hospital. And who would you find there but all of the funny ladies that have left the show without being killed off. Of course they are all in the mental hospital together. That makes sense. Actually, it has been really funny. But that leaves the well loved character that have been killed off. Oh, yeah. The brilliant, yet deceitful, Dr. Hayward has yet another secret. Somehow, he got to all of these people after they died (and before embalming evidently) and he has been using them as guinea pigs in a process of being the dead back to life. That's believable. Right? Whatever. But it makes for a lot of fun. I'm sure they will have to end with Erica Kane getting married for the umpteen time so everyone will have to be there.

Can you imagine this in "real life". People that make your life a little miserable sent right out to a hospital to be total entertainment. You know where they are. They are not going to bother you. You can take them out and play with them if you want then put them back up. All is well. The best part though is that the people that have left you in death to actually have been revived and are in a hospital somewhere waiting to come back into your life. Could be complicated. But what a dream. Anyway, I am totally enjoying it and all of this will probably make me miss my AMC habit even more.

So enough about my dream life. Lots going on. Not sure if I want to send someone to a hospital or go myself. Both would work for me at the moment.

Later.

News Flash! I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!!

So nice to know that after all 28 years, my husband and I still really enjoy each other's company. Do I sound surprised? Maybe I am...a little. We have been so busy just going through the motions of life that I am afraid that we have neglected each other a bit. As so many couples, we have been on auto-pilot; ships passing in the night; text and e-mail buddies; getting by; friendly neighbors...you get the idea. Last week was different though. The young adults were in their own home (thank you, God) and #2 son was gone for a week on vacation with a friend. We were A-L-O-N-E. Just us. The two of us. No kids. No one else's kids. Scary stuff. It was greatness! We really didn't even do much. Hung out together. Laughed a lot. Enjoyed the hummingbirds. Watched late movies and slept late. Hub worked from home except for one day that he was gone for about 6 hours. Guess what! I missed him! Isn't that fabulous? We did paint and redecorate our son's bedroom while he was gone. That was even fun. What a great week!

This week...well, this week has been a little more normal for us. #2 son flew home Saturday bringing his friend to spend the week with us. He got off the plane asking for ibuprofen. He has double ear infections. He has come in our bedroom every night crying with pain and has ended up sleeping in a recliner in our bedroom. He was running pretty high fever, too. We were at an emergency clinic on Sunday morning and I took him back to the doc today. You would think he would be symptom free after 4 days of antibiotics. He is just now feeling a bit better. We are doing everything that we can to help him. His friend flies home on Saturday and on Sunday, #2 is leaving for a week at the beach with another friend and family. He has got to be well. Mommy and Daddy want another fun week. :)

On Sunday night, we received a call from #1 son's girlfriend. He was sharpening a knife and his hand slipped, slicing open his thumb. They spent the night in the E.R. He cut a tendon which will require surgery. That is now scheduled for next Monday. He will not be able to use his hand for 4-6 weeks. Great for his new job! Someone also threw something through the window in his ghetto home. Hub went over there today and replaced the glass for them. Hub has actually been pretty good about leaving them to handle things themselves lately. (Knock on wood.) As soon as he saw blood, #1 expected us to jump in the car and come take care of him. When they called, I just said "It sounds like you need stitches. Better go to the hospital." He couldn't believe we weren't coming, but they did just fine. They did call several times during the night with the last one being at 5 a.m. But hey, that's improvement. One of the calls was actually kind of funny when they were trying to give the hospital the car insurance card instead of the health insurance card. We totally enjoyed it, too, when they came over on Monday AND THEN LEFT!!! After they left, I told Hub to make sure that the garage door was down and the door was locked. Just in case.

Well, we are looking forward to another childless week next week. Hub has a business trip next week and I plan to tag along for a few days. He will be in meetings most of the days, but I am quite happy to entertain myself. One night, they are having casino night so that ought to be fun. We plan on staying an extra day.

Hope your weeks are going well. Go fall in love with your husband.....again.

Later.

'

They're out!!!!!

It finally happened! Sh-hhh. Did I say that out loud? My son and the girlfriend have moved out. Is that angels I hear singing in the background? We spent yesterday getting their things over to their new address. There is just a bit still here. #1 son called at 8:00 this morning about it. Us: "No! Stay there. We will bring it to you this afternoon!" It is sad how excited we are.

After all of the months of looking on the internet and newspaper for housing (that would be me looking, of course) and them poo-pooing signing even a 6-month lease, the girlfriend picked this house out on her own. It is a 2-bedroom, holes in the wall, foundation shifting home in the ghetto with a one year lease that they will be paying at least $200 a month too much for. I don't think I would be able to get any sleep there. And the kitchen....ew-w-w-w. She didn't even realize that it did not have a refrigerator until after they had signed. So much to learn! My mantra is now "I'm sure you will figure something out."

We got in Thursday night from a week of travel. The car says we drove over 1800 miles. We met family at their lakehouse in Kentucky for a couple of days. #2 son took a friend with him and they had a blast jet skiing all day. Lots of fun visiting and then a bonfire and s'mores in the evening. Good family time.

From there we went to Indianapolis. That was where the boys dubbed our trip "The Dead People Tour". Hub had promised his aging aunt to take her to her parents (his grandparents) graves. He had not been there since he was 10, so we were relying on her to get us there. Oops! It is a huge cemetery and we had two cars, four adults and two boys looking at every tombstone while the aunt waited in the car. Bless her heart. She was embarrassed that she was so confused, but after probably an hour or wandering, we found them. So next we had to go across town to another cemetery to find another set of grandparents. This cemetery was actually pretty cool. Even the boys were a bit fascinated. It was very ornate; lots of fancy monuments and even a few celebrities including President Benjamin Harrison and John Dillinger.

After that adventure, we went over to a cousin's home for a 4th of July celebration. Lots of family, lots of little babies to hold, lots of fabulous food and great fun. I love being with my husband's cousins. We spent the next two nights at one of the cousin's farm. That is a treat in itself. SO beautiful! Such a different lifestyle than mine. Don't know that I would want to do it, but sure is fun to visit.

While on this trip, I got to have my very first Bloggy Buddy visit. I met "Birdie" from strelitziamusings.blogspot.com at a mall for lunch. She was gorgeous and gracious just like I knew she would be. So much fun! We chatted and chatted while we were serenaded by a pianist and a soloist in the atrium. Not a bad lunch!

We left there and took the young teens to a Children's Museum. Knowing that they would not be seen from anyone from their school, they had a great time and didn't worry about looking cool.
There was also a travelling exhibition of Barbie there. (Sigh.) I walked all through it and remembered all my Barbie's and the outfits they had on display that I had once played with. Barbie has had so many careers. Ken is still a moocher with no job. He still was just hanging out at the Barbie Dreamhouse and driving her convertible. ;)

That evening, we had the next stop of our "Dead People Tour". (That sounds so bad!) While we were driving up from Kentucky, we received a call that one of Hub's Indianapolis aunts had passed away. She was 92 and had a great life. The visitation was that night so we all went over there to see her son that we had not seen in many years and pay our respects. #2 son's friend had never seen a dead body so this was an experience. After greeting family, I just let them go to a side room with their I-pods. My family didn't stay for the funeral the next day as none of had brought appropriate clothes or shoes.

We decided to break up the long trip home and drive 6 hours back to the lakehouse and then 6 hours home the next day. On the way, we saw a sign for Abraham Lincoln's birthplace. (Never knew that he had been born in Kentucky.) Since this was our "Dead People Tour", we drove 20 miles off the route, toured and learned more about Lincoln. We started out again and then Hub thought about Mammoth Cave. He and I had been there with #1, but #2 and his friend had never been a cave. Here we go again traipsing through the countryside. Kentucky designs the roads thinking that you need to enjoy all of the state's beauty. The roads are winding and it take twice as long to get anywhere. We got there late in the day but just in time to catch the last tour. It's not as pretty as Carlsbad but it is interesting. Also, at Carlsbad Caverns, you take an elevator down into the earth. Here you walk down. Lots and lots and lots of stairs. It is 54 degrees in the cave so it is okay. But then, you have to come out. Up lots and lots and lots of stairs. We were all sweating by the time we got out and I am sure my face was beet red. Next time, I will just wait in the gift shop. Our 6 hour drive had now turned into almost 12. The next day was rainy, so there was no skiing. We were all anxious to get home Thursday night.

So no "adults" living up stairs now. #2 son flew out this morning to go on vacation with family friends in Texas. Mom and Dad have the house to ourselves for a week to chase each other around. Woo-hoo!

Later.