I'm both glad to welcome each of you and sad for this day of remembrance for what we know as "9/11".
My post last week was about remembering, and then, today is my week to host, and we are here, on September 11th, known for 25 years as "9/11", and we're remembering again. At least those of us who were alive- some growing up, some long grown. I am also remembering that it's my maternal grandmother's birthday. I named my daughter Sarah after her. She was not living on that day many will never forget, but I know she would rant and rail against those who did it, and if she could, step up to help in any way that she could.
I have been thinking about what it means to be a hero? Does it count if you didn't mean to be one, just jumped in to help save someone, and then, as so many did that day, kept going? I imagine each of you have numerous examples from that day.
Then, I think about the day before, a Monday. The week before was Labor Day. Does anyone remember what they did that day? It started a full work week. Perhaps some were excited to start a new job? Or, maybe someone knew that the end of the week would bring good company, or simply another weekend of rest?
Let me tell you that life
can be hard-earned,
but still be lovely.
No matter the grief,
sometimes it comes with laughter.
We honor those still living,
also the lost,
those who gave with shadowed smiles,
walking in to help others--
Never forsaken,
remembered!
Linda Baie ©
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25 comments:
Hi Linda. Yes I remember where I was and what those days were like after 9/ll. Your poem captures the sadness and horror we all felt. Thank you for your poem, a fitting remembrance. Thank you for hosting.
I remember because I'd had a baby September 1st, and it was my first day alone with the kids (my husband and parents had been around before that). What a shock! Thanks for the touching tribute. Thanks also for hosting!
"Never forsaken." My post is also about what I remember about that morning, those days. Thank you for the beautiful tribute, Linda, and for rounding us all up this week! xo
Linda, your poem is lovely, poignant, sad, and a fitting tribute. Thank you.
A beautiful poignant poem that hits just the right tone for this day. 25 years! I remember standing in my bedroom in disbelief as I watched the second tower get hit on TV. I called my parents in Hawaii who were still asleep -- "We're being attacked!" They had experienced Pearl Harbor too. Many heroes emerged from those worst of times. Thanks for hosting this week!
Thank you all for the kind comments & sharing your stories. I imagine so many stay, will stay, really because we "need" to remember.
A solemn commemoration and a most respectful poetic response, Linda. I arrived in NYC to work three weeks to the day following this horrific event. The people I met,while still traumatized by what had occurred, were also extremely welcoming, somehow buoyed by the fact that we were not deterred. It is difficult to believe it is now 25 years since all this took place. It changed the world as we know it. Its impact is still felt. You are right, we do need to remember.
"No matter the grief,
sometimes it comes with laughter."
This is true in so many situations - thank you for the reminder as sometimes the laughter is confusing in its relief. 25 years ago I was pregnant and home with two toddlers and no television. A mom friend called to tell me the sad news and invited me over. We need each other in our remembering. Thank you for hosting us today and always so kindly, so wisely. xo, a.
A defining event of our lives, wherever we were in them. I was in a nursery school classroom, wondering what sort of world we were contemplating bringing a second child into, not realizing how close in time, space and loss this would turn out to be. Your poem captures, in so few words, the whole range of emotions as we look back. Thanks for hosting, Linda!
Thank you for this remembrance, Linda. I was teaching 3rd grade at the time. My husband was working in DC. Because we couldn't turn TVs on, the ladies in the office were listening on radio, and they would come down to see me and give me the latest information. My principal told me to leave early and go home and check my answering machine to see if my husband had called. What a scary day. I eventually heard from him late in the evening, and realized how lucky we were that day. That day and the days and weeks that followed were ones I will never forget.
Linda, "Life can be hard-earned" is a truth that resonates, especially today. Thank you. My friend is a firefighter that lost many friends that day. I got a call that day—my husband and boys were safe in their nyc school (I was teaching in the suburbs) but my heart eternally breaks, as all our hearts break, for all those who waited for a call that never came.
Hard-earned and lovely. Yes! I had dropped children off at our Mother's Day Out program and was sitting in the K-mart parking lot when I heard it on the car (van) radio. We visited NYC 6 weeks later (a pre-planned trip with our boys) and it was stunning how quiet the site was, even then. Thanks for hosting. xo
Good morning! Thanks again for your comments. I like hearing your own memories. I spent the day with my students and numerous parents who trailed in to give support. Not knowing much was the challenge when we had no tv!
Thanks for hosting, Linda! It is always good to hear from you. I also included a post about remembering 9/11. I think its important to remember this sobering event. If people cannot read my Medium piece about it - feel free to reach out. WordPress doesn't always share the friend link. I am thankful PF authors are sharing their experiences, as are you.
Thanks for this inspiring post Linda in both your poem and comments, reminding us to remember the many unsung heroes and their selfless acts. Thanks also for hosting! xox
Thanks for hosting today, Linda, and also for your very heartfelt poem. I don't think any of us who experienced the tragedy that day will ever forget.
Linda, I am happy to read and post your lovely poem. there are so many heroes to reflect on in our history. 9/11 happens to be a part of my NY town's history too. 45 people perished on this day. I remember that my daughter and her friends chose to have a special commeration for their senior colleague whose mother passed away in the 9/11 tragedy. The night was touching and since then there was always a ceremony. I am also touched that you provided a space for us to write about our thoughts on 9/11 and other important topics that includes heroes, etc. I am impressed by your continous call to action on so many events. Peace to your, Linda.
Sorry to be late coming back, have had to go out! Thanks, Carol L., Michelle, Rose, & Carol V. for your nice comments, sharing your thoughts & experiences.
I am always particularly weepy on September 11 and sometimes I’m surprised by that. When I was in the classroom, I couldn’t get through any book about it. I actually stopped purposely teaching it because of my own emotional response. We do need to remember. I love your poem that says yes to grief, but also reminds us to celebrate life as it is today. Thank you.
Thanks, Margaret. I'm sorry you've had a hard time with this day, imagine you aren't alone! Except for the youngest ones, my school had a brief ceremony remembering every year after. We centered on remembering the fallen, & especially the heroes, lost & surviving, spoke of what that might mean to us in our future.
Thank you for hosting us, and for your beautiful poem, Linda. It is a conundrum, isn't it, that life can be so hard and yet so lovely both at the same time? So much shifted that day for my Muslim students.
Thank you, Mary Lee. Yes, the shifting. Though I had no Muslim students, a small group, led by a classmate, began to learn about the Muslim religion, to show that they were not what the news was projecting! We had spoken of prejudices rising, that all should be aware of untruths.
Thank you for hosting the round up this weekend and for your touching tribute to that day, now a quarter-century ago. I remember right where I was and the shock of the day. And, I remember playing with my then two-year old and not wanting her to see my emotions. It's an important day to remember...and I have a hard time with that. It's still such a sadness and loss.
Thank you for hosting, Linda, and for your thoughtful poem. You are so right in seeing the opposing emotions you can feel at one time. The laughter in the grief always surprises me, but it is also healing. On the morning of 9/11, I was preparing to welcome families to our religious ed registration. The hall was full of love and Christian images and faith. When we arrived, 3 men had broken in overnight and desecrated the hall with satanic symbols and tore the place apart. While we were cleaning up, we got word that a plane had hit the first tower. It was the day I felt I saw evil in the world firsthand. God bless the first responders, those we lost, and those still mourning.
Thank you, Linda & Cathy, for sharing your memories, not so easy to remember, but knowing that you were thinking of others that day.
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