I know yesterday was just another day for some people. I recognize that people have their own lives, and are dealing with their own pain. I think September 11th should maybe be a remembrance for anyone we�ve ever loved and lost in our lifetime, including those that died on 9/11.
I thought about that terrible day two years ago, I thought about my mom, my Aunt Rachel.
I would�ve taken the day off to take Jackie to Mass, as we did last year. For some silly reason though, this year her school scheduled school pictures for September 11th. I was kinda pissed because a lot of people take the day off to attend mass and memorials and I think that�s pretty inconsiderate.
Knowing it was picture day, I asked Jackie what she wanted to wear. She said, �Well Mom, it�s going to be September 11th, so I want to wear red, white and blue.� Well, duh, I felt like a dummy.
We went to TJ Maxx and bought her a white Betsy Johnson shirt, a pair of Levi�s and she wore a red, white and blue flag bandanna in her hair. I was proud of my little patriot.
My work had a memorial service yesterday. At 7:40 a.m. we gathered around the flagpole and had a moment of silence at the time of the attacks. Then, they played the national anthem. I guess I underestimated my co-workers because I thought some people were pretty cold and self-centered.
Consider my amazement when a couple hundred showed up to the memorial service yesterday.
I did cry. You guys know I�m emotional.
It was sort of a long day, and I couldn�t wait to go home. I left a few minutes early and headed home.
At home, I was watching CBS news, and they covered the ceremonies from Ground Zero. I felt like I should watch because that�s the least I could do. I felt so sorry for those kids who lost a parent. I don�t know if I�ll ever not really be affected by seeing the ceremonies at Ground Zero, but seeing those kids cry after saying a parent�s name is seared into my memory.
While I was watching this, Jackie and Jacob were playing in her bedroom. I called Jackie to come see me. She came running. I told her �I wish we could do something for the firemen up the street� and Jackie had the idea to feed them. Kids are so genius sometimes.
We hemmed and hawed, but in the end, the only feasible option was to get them donuts.
The kids were really excited to do something for the guys, so they didn�t even give me any lip about putting their shoes on and getting ready. We decided on Krispy Kreme, which was five minutes from my house.
Krispy Kreme wasn�t busy at all, and it took 10 minutes to box up four dozen assorted donuts. The kids, by now, were pretty hyper and wouldn�t be quiet or sit still. I was waiting for them to start doing pole vaults off the table. Thankfully, our order was filled quickly.
The brats picked out some donuts for themselves, and each got a chocolate milk chug. I told them that we would be allowed to eat our donuts after we visited the firehouse.
We rehearsed in the car what we were going to say to the firemen.
I�m so glad we decided to do this. The older but handsome fireman by the front door looked really surprised to see us. He heard me say, �Where�s the hero�s?� (which I know is really cheesy sounding guys but I was trying to teach the kids something here) and he peeked out from behind the ladder truck.
We shyly approached him, and I gently reminded the kids that we had something to say to them.
�Thank you for taking care of us� the kids said, smiling big. Then Jackie ran to him and put her little arms around his waist in a bear hug, and Jacob followed her example.
I told him, �I just wanted to let you know that we didn�t forget you today,� and he said, �Well thank you so much!� with an surprised expression on his face. He had this infectious smile on his face when he invited us into their break room, where then, the most beautiful man I�ve ever seen greeted us.
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed Adonis stood there like a white knight, clad in navy blue, uh, something (I don�t know what, it could�ve been a toga for all I know). We repeated our little message to him and the first fireman gave him the bag of donuts.
He set them on the table, profusely thanking us, and got the kids some firehats, coloring books and rulers from a drawer.
I gave him a hug after telling him thanks. Jackie gave him one too. (Later she told me she hugged him because he was cute, and I admitted that was my motive also!)
The kids were ecstatic. Of course Jackie had to ask him, the Adonis, if they had a bathroom. Lord, this kid just wanted to see what it looked like; I know her. But the patient Adonis showed her where it was.
Just as the kids were allowed to get in the truck, the alarm went off. I yelled for them to get out, there was a fire. They scrambled out of that truck as fast as their little legs could move, as if their own pants were on fire. It was pretty funny.
We went outside and sat on the little wall and watched the firetruck leave.
The kids oohed and aahed at the loudness of the siren in combination with all the lights. The firemen waved at the kids, and they were gone.
I think what impressed me about it was the way the kids talked about it with awe, and of course, the look in the firemen�s eyes when we told them we hadn�t forgotten them. It was an unspoken appreciation for one another.
I went home with the chattering kids, feeling pretty great about doing something here on 9/11 in the Midwest. I didn�t move mountains, but I taught the kids a little about true heroes, and I taught myself about doing what my gut tells me to.
I think 9/11 is about appreciating what you have, and remembering what you�ve lost.
8:51 a.m. - 2003-09-12
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