Twenty First Stop: Never Forget 9/11

Thirteen years ago today, our lives as American citizens changed.   Many of us will forever remember where we were and what we were doing.  

     I was going to school...I was in the 8th grade.  That day started off very different than most any other day I had ever had, or would have ever again.   My mom woke me up and told us to go look at her tv.  My mom, brother, and I sat there watching the first plane hit the tower in disbelieve.  We continued to get ready for school and it was just such an uneasy feeling.  When we get to school, it too had a feeling of confusion.  None of the teachers were really sure what to say or how to conduct the class.  Most of the teachers had the news on and just passed out worksheets for us to do...busy work, I would say.   I don't think many actually got completed because we were all discussing what we were seeing.  

     It finally came to 4th period - History with Mr. Roddy.  He was my all-time favorite history teacher.  He brought us into the classroom and we all had so many questions for him.  He sat us down and started writing stuff on the board.  We started diagramming what was known fact,  what was a possibility,  and what was pure bullshit.... As class started coming to an end he told us something that I remember clearly to this day.  He said, "This is a day that will go down in history books.  This is a day that generations after you will most likely not remember, just like you do not remember previous bombings or attacks on this country.  This is a day that you will tell your children, your grand children, and possibly your great children about.  Remember this day.  Do not forget to tell your loved ones how much you love them... Even if you are mad at them.  This is a day that will bring this country together and strengthen the bond that we as Americans have for our country.  This is a day that should never be forgotten.  So, close your eyes and remember this day and say a prayer." 

     We all sat for a minute..........passed the bell , with our eyes closed doing exactly what he had instructed us to do.  It was the worse feeling to know we could not do that much to make difference in that second.  

     Since September 11th happened 13 years ago, I have had the opportunity to go to Ground Zero and able to see the progress of what was once pure chaos become an absolutely beautiful remembrance of this day.  It is a place for families and friends who lost someone to sit in peace and reminisce.  It is a place for those who did not know anyone to connect to a name of person. The last time I was there was this last March.  It is still in the finishing touches.  If you ever have the opportunity to go to the Ground Zero museum, take a tour from people who are now volunteers that had some part in this day, to hear their stories...To give them a hug... To connect and make it more personable.   I highly suggest you do It is a beautiful tribute to a not so beautiful disaster.  

God Bless.  And God Bless America...

The Towers 3 years Ago.

The Foot Prints. 

Twentieth Stop: Laughter and Smiles

     If you cannot laugh at yourself who can... but when you are able to help a kiddo have a better day, it makes your day that much more important.  When my kiddo does not need assistance, I often will help the other kids in class.  Today they were working on Alaskan Geography and they got to draw maps.  My kiddo happens to be an amazing artist and once she had paper and a pencil she went to town with her art...Catching every detail possible.  This made the boy sitting next her very self conscious.  You could see him start to shut down and he was no longer enjoying the activity.

    I grabbed a paper and (my drawing skills are far from decent) and called him over and he sat next to me.  I asked him how my drawing was.  He looked at it... looked at me... looked at it... He said, "Well Ms. Ryan... it "kinda" looks like Alaska.  It is ok though, you are from California."  (He he he he - Where do the kids come up with this stuff?).  So then I asked to see his and he put his head down.  "Hey, just because a Californian can't draw your state, well, does not mean that you being an Alaskan have to draw Alaska perfectly."     He looked at me with new hope in his eye.  He picked up his pencil and started to draw.   I do not think mine was that far off, but if kept this boy from having a break down and got a smile... that my friends "is priceless."     

     Later that evening I was running around the air port and some of the people were coming in from a few hours of fishing.  Sure enough,  that same kiddo on an ATV hauling butt ...stops, smiles, waves, makes a funny face, and takes off again.  This brought a huge smile to face because I hate running and for him to take that second to acknowledge I was there and make me smile.... that too is priceless.