All,

I just wanted to wish you each a Happy Patriot's Day.

I have been dealing with much sadness the past year, but today is my Liberation Day. No More!

It came over me when I participated in the Hands and Hearts Across America that I took part in this morning. As I stood there crying my eyes out as we made a human chain from downtown OKC to the state capital building, I realized that now was the time for the sorrow and sadness to end.

Someone over at TB wrote some wonderful words, and showed each of us what we should be grateful for.

I quote from Aleph Null:

This day has been one marked by remembrance, mourning, and sadness for America. As I have tried to go about my daily routine I have been unable to stop thinking about the enormity of the date. As I think back to that fateful day one year ago, however, I cannot help but be struck not just by what did happen, but what did not, and not just on what we lost, but what we didn't lose. I am forced to look at the cup as being not just half-empty, but half-full, and perhaps more than half-full.

I'm grateful that I personally did not lose a family member or close friend on 9/11, while I grieve on behalf of those who did.

I'm grateful that "only" a few thousand were killed and not the tens of thousands that could have been in those buildings.

I'm grateful that the evil men who hijacked the planes didn't bring any biological or chemical materials along for their ride of death.

I'm grateful that they didn't have any nuclear weapons at their disposal, or we would have faced a disaster to make the destruction of the WTC look like a paper cut by comparison.

I'm grateful for every man and woman in the second tower who, seeing people jump to their deaths from the first, ignored the reassurances of safety from officials and said "I am getting out of here now."

I'm grateful that the terrorists chose one of the most fortified of buildings in Washington to hit with their human missile.

I'm grateful for the men and women on Flight 93 who defined what heroism is truly all about. I'm grateful that there were men braver than myself on that flight who, faced with about the most difficult decision a human can face, made the right choice and died well.

I'm grateful for the heroes in uniform who rushed in while others rushed out, even while knowing what this would probably mean for themselves. I'm grateful for their brothers and sisters who lost what they did on 9/11 but continue to do the same today.

I'm grateful that our president acted with confidence and speed last fall and probably disrupted or prevented further action against us -- even though he had little experience with world affairs and many said he was crazy.

I'm grateful that when I assumed a year ago that Al-Qaeda was smart enough to have planned follow-up attacks after 9/11, I may have given them too much credit.

I'm grateful that the concerns many of us had about Afghanistan becoming a "quagmire" turned out to be unwarranted.

I'm grateful that we have been shaken out of our complacency and given a renewed understanding of what is really important.

I'm grateful that the World Trade Center collapsed, but the American spirit stood tall.

I'm grateful to live in a nation that is, despite its many warts, the finest on earth.

-A0-

The Link is here if you wish to read.

Hopefully, these words will inspire you to have a Happy Patriot's Day.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

Answers

thanks apoc. I started out the day as I did a year ago. Being awakened earlier than usual. fortunately it wasn't the same reason!

I realized around noon that i needed to get out of the house. I had spent last year glued to the tv and the computer. This time I went to a government building down south. All was as it should be. Inept gardeners roaming the grounds with leaf blowers. I think they were inept because they couldn't seem to get the leaves organized. Now I realize they were not gardeners, if you know what I mean.

The building was practically empty, and yet the parking lot was full. Then I realized that the car's owners were somewhere else. the lots were used as a place for them to meet and go elsewhere by other means, as in other cars.

Then, I went and did some shopping. The stores I went to were typical for a midweek afternoon. no worries there. [a couple had some of those gardeners, not sure if they were the inept kind.]

Made it thru the day, and then spent the evening with NBC. They did an outstanding job, I think. Did anyone else watch NBC?

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

Barefoot,

Sorry, I didn't watch NBC last evening. I chatted with a few friends, and spent some wonderful quality time with my son. After he was fast asleep in whatever world his dreams take him, I turned on the TV but was watching HGTV.

Yesterday, especially the morning, was the end of my year long sorrow. I simply cannot continue to live my life feeling the way I did. It has only been a day, but my son has noticed a huge difference. That is a very good thing. I just can't wait until hubby returns home to see how much he notices. ;)

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

Barefoot, I may never look at another leaf blower the same way!

apoc, I found yesterday rather cathartic. Glad you're doing better, too.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

Well, in spite of the fact that it was a government contract, they couldn't be THAT inept! the place was a mess of leaves.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

About those cars in the lot. I know from my scanner that two vulnerable entrances to our police HQ were closed off, starting the evening shift of September 10 through the day shift of September 11 (Roughly 5 PM to 5 PM). In addition, guards were patrolling the site. I have never known that to happen before. Thus, I suspect not only provincial police HQs but also government field offices of all types were under close scrutiny for a similar period, besides the obvious HQs in DC, places like that, of course. This action was not announced, nor was it reported, so I have to wonder what other security measures were implemented that we don't know about. Makes me feel a lot more secure, anyway, that even the podunk places like Durham are taking precautions.

I didn't watch much TV last night but did surf a little and caught the last half of that film shot by those French brothers--remember that? It was a superb film--really the triumph of good over evil-- and I had to watch it again. I didn't see it so much the first time because I was still too sad and pissed off, but I did see that aspect clearly this time and feel all the better for it.

The experts say that it takes about a year to grieve and I guess they're right. But no forgiving and no forgetting!

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

OldGit,

Who said anything about forgiving and forgetting?

Certainly not moi. I shall NEVER forget. I shall NEVER forgive.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002

Oh, heaven's NO, not directed at you or anyone on this site! I guess it sprang from a subconscious memory of those folks, lightly mentiond yesterday, who believe peace, love and kumbayah will overcome all problems.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002