Of All Days To Begin Blogging

I've thought about beginning a blog for a long time now but never really thought I had much to say. But lately, during sleepless nights, I keep thinking of things I could write about. After reading a good friend's blog, Baseball Games and Tea Parties, I decided that I could do it. So, yesterday, I set up my account, told myself that I had plenty to say, and vowed to blog. This morning I woke up, not realizing what day it was, and I wondered what I would write about. (This is how it typically goes with me--having it all planned out until I need to start.) I got the boys off to school, and then it hit me. This is no typical day.

On September 11, 2001, I was to substitute teach in the afternoon, so I had the morning to spend with then 16 month old Patrick. I had planned to do a little laundry and a few house chores, when on the news, Matt and Katie said that a plane had crashed into one of the two towers of the World Trade Center. They had my attention. My in-laws live in New York, about a two hours away from the City, and in NY two hours is not that far. As I got Patrick settled after breakfast, I kept watching, and sure enough the second tower was hit, and then the Pentagon, and later that day the plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field. I was numb with grief for the victims and their families, the police officers, and the firefighters. I called my husband, who somehow hadn't heard any of it, and he couldn't believe it either. He and I stayed in touch for the rest of the day, and kept each other filled in on the latest news. I finally pryed myself away from the tv, and got ready to get to work. I dropped Patrick off at the sitter, and headed to school. It was very difficult to focus on the job at hand, and for the most part, I just muddled through the afternoon.

Since that day, I have had two more children, and now I feel a greater need to protect our blessed country. I know I can't do much alone, but together as citizens of the greatest nation on this planet, we can come together to unite and do much.