Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2009. This was the beginning of the end for Mattie, as you can see he had oxygen connected to him at all times, along with IV pains meds, pain patches, and IV fluids. How Mattie was able to smile given all he was coping with is truly hard to comprehend. That day Mattie received a Lego kit to create this wonderful Victorian type of home/store. Needless to say, he and Peter spent hours building the structure, and it still remains assembled in our living room today.
Quote of the day: Nearly two decades later, America and the world have changed significantly, but the events of 9/11 remain with us. Even on that darkest day, the remarkable heroism of countless men and women shone through. In every selfless act, in every expression of kindness, we keep the memories of those heroes alive. ~ David Carlin
Today marks the 18th anniversary of 9/11. For those of us alive during these horrific terrorist attacks, we will never forget where we were when we heard the news or the profound devastation we saw on TV in New York, Washington, DC and Shanksville, PA. I have been glued to the TV and radio all day today, listening to stories about the incredible lives lost whether on the ground or in the air. One woman on the radio today, explained that she went into the common lounge at her place of business to watch TV during the 9/11 ceremonies at Ground Zero. While minding her own business, a colleague came in and basically made fun of her. He wanted to know why she was watching this, as it is "over" and happened a long time ago.
Just hearing this commentary made me so angry. Not only does this person want to erase history, but he wants those around him to be robotic.... not express concerns, feelings, and sympathy after seeing and hearing such devastation. All basic human emotions, and frankly what separates us from the animal species. You just have to listen to the family survivors, or the rescue workers who are battling all sorts of serious health issues because of exposure to toxins at Ground Zero, to know that people do remember and are hurting deeply. Our fellow Americans' lives have been profoundly changed, people continue to grieve, and the pain hasn't decreased for them in 18 years. Therefore, 18 is just a number. I haven't lived their trauma, but I understand traumatic loss. The words and feelings they express make sense to me. I truly feel what they are saying and it isn't a foreign language to me.
I continue to be amazed how 9/11 is NOT acknowledged in schools. As many school aged children now weren't even alive during this tragedy. So what does that mean? You didn't experience, so what it doesn't exist or matter? I would say educators and administrators are in essence saying this to our children by their actions. I get the skirting around difficult issues, but we aren't doing our children any service by not equipping them to process and verbalize crises, pain, and grief.
I came across the article entitled, 9/11: Remembering Those Lost 18 Years Ago
(https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/11/nyregion/september-11-tribute-ceremony.html). The below excerpt caught my attention, because I would say for the most part everyone around me in Washington, DC today acted like it was business as usual. Sure we want to return to our vibrancy, but in my opinion that doesn't mean erasing our history and memories.
The 18th anniversary, not a major milestone like the fifth or the 10th, is taking place in an area that rebounded as it was rebuilt and, some say, as the country moved on. The crowd outside the ceremony thinned as the morning went on.
Men and women in business clothes rushed from one appointment to the next. Riders on Citi Bikes shouted “bike lane” to oblivious pedestrians who were standing in their way while texting on cellphones. But for the families whose relatives were killed, the grief remains as piercing and profound as ever. La-Shawn Clark said the memorial was where she sensed his (her husband's) presence the most. “There’s never closure,” she said, “but when I come here, when the wind blows, it’s like he’s kissing me.”
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