Today, I thought about a distant past, that felt like yesterday.
Nineteen years ago.
It felt strange not to be in school with the students today.
They were home online learning and the teachers were left to remember in empty classrooms
but full computer screens and inboxes.
Yes, the world has changed.
I cried a few tears today at my socially distanced desk.
Son Sam, a 13 year old, eighth grader,
must have talked about it yesterday when he was in school.
He was giving me his theory of the intended target of Flight 93.
I told him the story of Todd Beamer and how he and other
passengers stormed the cockpit and his famous last words,
"Let's Roll.!"
Sam listened so intently,
and was silent a minute.
Then he said,
Mom, I SO would have done that!
I cried some more.
When coronavirus forced us into the first shut downs in March,
daughter Ellen Louise asked
Is this what the country was like during 9-11?
Hubby and I answered with a resounding NO!
Coronavirus was a slow seep of poison
that weaved its way into the fractures of this nation
and has further divided us as a people.
The 9-11 shock of the sucker punch left us paralyzed for days,
and when we slowly stood and took steps forward,
we did so together.
Do you remember President George W. Bush's bullhorn speech?
Here is a beautiful piece from Alan Jackson himself
that has been played a whole lot today:
Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?
Yes, students.
The world did stop turning for a moment.
What you're experiencing now is more like wrinkle in time.
Life goes on.
We grow and multiply.
We all still look up at the same beautiful moon.
Challenges come. We adapt.
We keep moving forward.Take time to stop and smell the daisies. Even the wild purple ones.
Spend time in the great outdoors.
And try not to get lost.
Raise happy children.
Teach them to observe the wonders of nature.
Find your happy.
Share it with friends.
And most importantly, find the funny and share it,
because most of the time,
life is just too darn serious!
Two pieces that I found very interesting to watch today were the following,
if you are so inclined to watch them:
NBC's Harry Smith did a beautiful reflection on the Today Show this morning,
CLICK HERE for Harry Smith's segment
This was probably the most interesting to watch--
the Today Show broadcast as the events were occurring in New York City:
A chilling reminder CLICK HERE
Eloise
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