As I said that question brings me to 10 yrs and 6months prior. I was on a plane coming back from a vacation with a good friend of mine. We had gone to London, England. It was the first vacation I had since having my children. We were flying back into the states into Newark Airport. I happen to glance over through the window on our decent and I gasped a bit. Mark looked at me funny....I told him I could see the Twin Towers and the Statue in the farther distance. They were tiny but amazing site for this girl who had never been farther then Minnesota in the USA. I continued to watch until I couldn't see it anymore. Deep down I knew I wouldn't have the chance to see it again. At that time knowing I probably would never get to NYC again not knowing what would happen only 6 months later. Amazing what memories do come flooding back.
Fast forward 6 months...I was woken up but my stepdad telling me planes hit building you gotta come see. I get up and see on the TV the First Tower engulfed in smoke. My daughter was 19months old and hanging on to Grandpa big time. My son 4yrs old sat next to me and grabbed my arm..."you no flying anymore mommy" I had just gotten home 2 days prior from Texas. Tyler said "You no flying without me mommy" so when i flew to Texas for a Soldiers' Angels Convention Tyler flew with me and didn't go to a family reunion....he remembered that and to this day remembers it.
i remember sitting in front of hte TV all day with my stepdad and my kids. Crying and not knowing if a couple of my friends were OK. I heard from one of my old St Francis Cabrini friends that he lost his girlfriend. He had just gotten out of his car to hear and see the plane hit the tower she worked in. He said he dropped the picnic basket of breakfast goodies for her and the engagement ring inside, and stood motionless for a very long time he thought but was only a minutes....He lost the love of his life. I can't believe this was happening to our country....The last serious attack on America was Pearl Harbor. That was the Day Of Infamy for my Grandparents era....The Attack on the Twin Tower, the Pentagon and the Crash in the Pennsylvania Field was this Generation's Pearl Harbor....I couldn't believe what I was watching. When it came to fixing dinner Mom was on the computer i was fixing dinner that is all I remember was crying because my brothers would be going to War. America was going to war over this. Oh my little brothers were going to defend out country because of the idiots who did this to US on OUR SOIL!! NO MORE!!!
Emily asked me this morning "What do you remember mom? Where were we??" As I said she was only19months old. But today also got me thinking about alot of "where were you moments in our history" For my parents/grandparent's it was "Where were you when WWII started in Europe?" "where were you when Pearl Harbor was attacked?" "Where were you when John Kennedy was shot?" " Where were you when Bobby was killed?" " What were you doing when the Vietnam Conflict started...Did you get drafted?" I will remember "Where were you when the US beat the Russians in hockey?" "Where were you when Regan got Shot" or Where were you when john Lennon was killed?" "Where was I when the Shuttle program started and when the first shuttle landed" " Where were you when the Shuttle BlewUp?" "Where were you at During hte Oklahoma Bombing?" Or When Princess Diana was in the accident?" The one that will forever be in every one's heart and mind is "Where were you when the Towers were hit?" or as Alan Jackson said in his wonderful song...."Where were you when the World stop turning?"
Today is a day of memories and emotions. My children are older and understand more and more what had happened 10 years ago. Since then I have seen my two brothers serve in Iraq in 05-06 but my youngest brother has been deployed since 2002...I support and love my brothers and all who are in the Armed Services. Most of all I support those who risk their lives everyday for us and we don't thank them enough either... Firefighters, Police Officers, and all who put on a uniform to Serve and Protect!!
Deep Dark secret time......Not many people know or knew for a couple of years I was a volunteer firefighter. One of a few female firefighters. I would have loved to follow through with it more when I moved to Denver but I couldnt' get a department to sponsor me for the test and that I could work with for one I was a woman and two I was plus size. Hey that didn't stop me from proving to men who were in for 10+ years I deserved to do the same things they did. I loved it. I haven't been apart of a Department since 1993 but when I was watching all the Firefighters and EMS with the towers My heart was breaking I wanted to be there so bad. Once you have that firefighting in you you never lose it. My heart is always with the firefighters.
I will always have 9/11 etched in my heart. I will NEVER forget those who innocently lost their lives to this horrific event. This isn't of any importance blog just a memory keeper for me. I am Forever Grateful for those who serve everyday. My our hearts keep memories safe and we never forget.
The following Pictures are of My Favorite Car that comes to our Car Show every year. I sit there and try to find all the stars. This is for the Fallen Firefighters on New York. Amazing Paint job. There is one star added for a fallen Denver Firefighter that was just days from retirement when he lost his life doing what he loved and saving others. So I ask each of you not only to say THANK YOU to a Military Person but to every Uniformed Person in our lives.
