| 9.11.2001 |
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Heart! ~ If you are not a subscriber and this has been passed on to you, join us by sending a blank e-mail to four_ears @ msn.com (remove spaces) with "subscribe" in the subject line. And get the love direct! Tour our web site: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001 ________________________________________________________ "The battle of life is in most cases fought uphill, and to win it without struggle is almost like winning it without honor. If there were no difficulties, there would be no successes; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved. Difficulties may intimidate the weak, but they act only as a wholesome stimulus to those of resolution and valor. All experiences of life, indeed, serve to prove that impediments thrown in the way of human advancement may, for the most part, be overcome by steady good conduct, honest zeal, activity, perseverance, and, above all, by a determined resolution to surmount difficulties and to stand up firm and strong against misfortune." - Edmund Burke ________________________________________________________ 9.11.2001 We all remember where we were when it happened. "The World Trade Center's just been hit!" my coworker said, her eyes wide as she approached my desk. Before the devastating news sank in completely, she approached me again. "Now the other tower's been hit!" And a few moments later: "You're not going to believe this. A plane's hit the Pentagon." I was numb the rest of the day. My sister-in-law, Karen, saw the Pentagon burning from her government office window. She didn't know how she was going to get home. She took the Metro, and all modes of traffic were stalled indefinitely, crowding the streets below. My husband, Stephen, was on his way home from the doctor's office when he happened to glance up at an overpass. A gentleman stood there next to a propped up flag. He stared straight ahead, saluting the horizon. It wasn't until Stephen switched on the radio that he understood the fierce patriotism of the lone figure on the overpass. We had made a mutual decision not to tell the boys. We simply couldn't find the words to translate what our minds could not understand. A few weeks ago, my son, Matthew, was passing the television set when the infamous video of the plane plunging into the second tower flickered across the screen. "WHOA!" he said. "Mom! Did you see that? That plane just hit a building!" "Yes, I know." Then with the innocence of a four-year-old, Matthew looked up at me with those round blue eyes and asked, "Didn't the airplane guy see the building?" If only it were that simple, son. Recently my sister-in-law visited New York and stood at Ground Zero, offering up silent prayers. She wrote an e-mail about her experience: "We went to Ground Zero. Very sobering and emotional. I don't know if anyone can stand in front of that vast, gaping hole without crying. Seeing pictures of it is not the same as being there. I took a picture of the iron beam that sheared off in the perfect formation of a cross - it is still standing as a haunting memorial. I don't know if they will ever remove that piece of concrete column or not. We talked at length with a fireman who was only one out of four to survive - all the rest of his firehouse perished. I was surprised that he opened up to us, strangers, and he said he had to continue to talk about it - he couldn't keep it inside." Throughout the Pentagon is a sea of pictures, cards, and letters from well-wishers. To paraphrase one note: "I'm sorry you lost your frends and family. I will pray for you. I love you. Love, Jessica p.s. I'm six years old" To all who have been affected by this tragedy, just know you are not alone in your grief. We will continue to keep you in our prayers, send money, give blood. We will continue to wave our flag high. As the anniversary of this horrific tragedy dawns upon us, we will give thanks for ordinary folks who cared for stranded Americans in their time of need. We will give thanks to the heroes among us who make a living by putting their lives on the line every day. We will give thanks for being Americans. God bless America. Land that I love. Amen. Jennifer Oliver four_ears @ msn.com Copyright © 2002 by Jennifer Oliver. All rights reserved. _________________________________________________________ LOVE, JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY four_ears @ msn.com "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles my be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June 24, 1873 Translation: When you are born, you cry and the people around you are happy. So live your life in such a way that when you die, you are happy and the people around you cry. _________________________________________________________ This E-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but first ask the writer for permission before forwarding. Thank you for doing the decent thing! Ü ________________________________________________________ SUBMIT STORY, QUOTE, OR FAMILY LOVE MOMENT: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/submission.htm FEEDBACK: four_ears @ msn.com ________________________________________________________ |
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