George W. Bush said, on September 20, 2001, to a joint session of Congress:
"Americans are asking: What is expected of us? I ask you to live your lives, and hug your children. I know many citizens have fears tonight, and I ask you to be calm and resolute, even in the face of a continuing threat. I ask you to uphold the values of America, and remember why so many have come here. We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them. No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words because of their ethnic background or religious faith."
This Week I'm:
Listening To: The Weird Sisters and NPR while I'm driving, podcasts while I'm working out (You Must Remember This, Happier, NPR Books, Stuff You Should Know).
Reading: Racing to finish Natchez Burning for review this week and so I can get back to Ashes of Fiery Weather and finish it. My house may need to clean itself this month - I have a lot of books to read!
Making: Oh, you know, all of the things with tomatoes. Yesterday, we made salsa and spaghetti sauce to freeze. Will probably make more of both of those this week.
Planning: I can't think of planning today. There are too many things swirling around in my mind and I can't focus on any of them.
Thinking About: See above. Enjoying: A picnic dinner with friends last night on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River valley. Don't tell my hubby I said that, though; I might have pouted before hand about going.
Feeling: Sad/happy - had to say goodbye to Mini-me and Miss S on Monday. I'm happy that they are finally getting to be together and starting their life together but oh how I will miss them both!
Looking forward to: A group from my book club and I will be seeing Geraldine Brooks speak this week.
Question of the week: What is your most vivid memory of 9/11?
How fun to get to see Geraldine Brooks. I've loved her books that I've read. This is always a hard day. Can't believe it has been 15 years already. I remember like it was yesterday, but think that applies to other things in history like December 7th (my mother remembered that so vividly), the day JFK was shot, the day the Challenger exploded. My daughter was just starting her freshman year of college and we had moved her 3 hours from home about 3 weeks before that day. I remember that I wanted to go get her. And now, there are high schoolers who were too little to understand. Life goes on. Love the thoughts you shared. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh, that would have been hard to have your daughter so far away. I just wanted to get in the car and go get my kids from school and bring them home!
DeleteI feel very subdued re. world affairs. America has been and continues to be on my heart, especially right now. I'm sure those of us old enough to remember 9/11 will recall exactly where we were. I had the television on as I switch on first thing in the morning to hear the news. I saw what was happening without immediately understanding the implication of the images on the screen, but felt compelled to phone my best friend and pray. I'm sure you have mixed emotions about saying goodbye to Mini-me and Miss S. I well remember our daughters moving away, especially the daughter who went to train to be a paediatric nurse, (four hours away by car). The nurses' home where she had to stay for a year was in the area where the notorious Yorkshire Ripper had been apprehended. Your thoughts are with them all the time as you get on with your own life. You are pleased for them that they're starting out on their careers, but miss the company. Looking forward to hearing about your time with Geraldine Brooks.
ReplyDeleteI can't focus at all these days. I will walk out to the garage to get something and forget what. Or I will begin to write something down and then totally lose my train of thought. I blame season which really hasn't changed here yet but still.
ReplyDeleteI went to the store the other day and spent a good chunk on groceries but have nothing to make for dinner tonight. As usual, my meal planning is non-existent. I really wish I had a farmer's market near me every day so I could just stop and get what I am in the mood for.
Too many things going on in your head these days!
DeleteI forgot to answer your 9/11 question. My most haunting memory is an interview I heard that mentioned all of the cell phones ringing in the debris. Just the thought of all those families trying to read their loves one... heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteOh, god, yes! Those phones ringing must have been terrible to hear.
DeleteYou bring up an excellent post about how divided our country is now as opposed to after 9/11. It is rather depressing when you think about it.
ReplyDeleteMy most vivid memory? So many. We were living in Fort Walton Beach, FL because Jim was attending a military school at Eglin Air Force Base. Connor was at a daycare on base. Jim was at a different section of the base learning how to diffuse bombs, and I was working off-base as well. An air force base always has planes/jets in the air. Always. You get used to the sound. After the attacks, there was silence. It was one of the eeriest things I have ever experienced. Then came the panic about getting Connor from daycare since the base was essentially shut down. Then came the fear that Jim would be called into action to whatever was going to happen after we figure out who did it. Those are feelings I will never forget because the fear and panic were primal.
Oh wow - you really did have an even scarier experience in the aftermath than most people! We felt that we were pretty safe here until we realized that they were flying Bush to Omaha which, of course, we felt like made us target then and going forward.
DeleteI hate how divided we have become as a country. It's heartbreaking to see. As horrible as 9/11/01 was, it was beautiful to see the way people came together in the aftermath. My dad passed away on 9/11 five years ago and that day will always carry both memories for me now.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good week, Lisa, and enjoy seeing Geraldine Brooks speak. Sounds like a bright spot in a sad week.
Oh, I'm so sorry; that really is a tough day for you.
DeleteHow fun to Geraldine Brooks this week. Where was she speaking? Omaha gets so many good author events! With that said, my husband is having a book signing at the B&N SouthPointe location on the 24th. :)
ReplyDeleteAh, 9/11. I was working at Borders Books & Music in Fort Worth. Awful day of watching the second plane crash live on tv in our dvd department. Then the Pentagon. I remember going home and sitting in front of the tv for hours and hours. My most vivid memory was hearing a plane and jets flying overhead around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I was completely freaked out because we all knew that all planes had been grounded. Turns out it was American Airlines (hub in Dallas) sending condolence flights out (escorted by military jets) to work with the families. At least that's what I remember. Looking back now, I'm not sure if my memory is correct. All I know is that we weren't under attack, which is what my neighbors and I were worried about when we heard the planes. Such a horrible, horrible time in our history.
I wasn't aware that they sent out condolence flights. It was amazing how quickly we got used the the lack of airplane sounds, wasn't it. They had to airlift a young man out of a football game a block away from us a few days afterwards and the helicopter came over our house while we were eating dinner. We all just froze. It had taken quite a lot of work to just get permission to get that copter up in the air, apparently.
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