I finished an amazing book last night called "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," by Jonathan Safran Foer. I read it in a week and if I didn't have company last weekend then I probably would have read it in a couple of days. I laughed and cried each time I sat down to read, and then cried and laughed some more. Even on the bus and in the courtyard on my break from work... I couldn't help it. It was cleverly written and I really identified with the random thoughts and constant "inventing" by Oskar Schell, and I got "heavy boots" from the many tragedies recorded in the book. It has certainly made me reflect and remember "the worst day." And I can't seem to stop thinking about it so I thought I would write...I remember it was "Toga Tuesday" of Homecoming week. I was running a little late that morning and as I walked down the all from the attendance office it was silent when I expected to hear the morning announcements taking place. I walked into Mr. Flemmings' class, A.P. U.S. History and everyone was staring at the TV. But rather than seeing Christy Flury on the screen was saw the twin towers. One of them was just hit by an airplane and it was smoking... We watched everything live- how appropriate for our US History class, I don't remember learning anything else that day- but we talked about it a lot. We watched the second plane hit, the first tower tumbling and the second shortly followed... the smoke, the people, the clips of the Pentagon and wondering what else could be coming? How could this happen, how could their plan really work? It was devastating and I was on the other side of the country, I didn't know anyone who died and it still rocked my little world and made wearing a toga seem pretty lame that day. I can't imagine those who were there, who experienced it, who lost loved ones, who survived and firefighters who saved... I can't imagine. Our homecoming themes took a change that week- we changed the assembly on Friday to a patriotic day with speakers rather than skits. We had a fundraiser and sold T-shirts that had "9-11-01" on the front and I think it said, "In memory of.." on the back- all proceeds went to one of the foundations helping in the recovery. We had a candle light vigil after the homecoming game where both teams and fans from both sides gathered on the field for the national moment of silence, followed by a few patriotic songs, and most of us cried. It was a somber time but also unifying. I think this event paved the way for my graduating class to break barriers and all become friends that year. Sometimes I look back on that year that followed and remember how much people realized they loved America and wanted to protect it... Things have changed over the past seven years. People have hardened, politics have become increasingly complicated and unfortunately the wars have continued. It may not be on our soil or so close to home, but these people are suffering. So many of them have lost those they love, they can't sleep or they sleep in fear. Where we worry about losing jobs, they worry about losing lives. And they are all hurt so they take it out on each other rather than mourning together. I can't imagine it. I take this peace for granted but I pray every day for less suffering and more peace. And why the fight? What good can come from it? If it is a religious battle then I don't understand, No God would want this. Just as no father wants to watch his children fight, it must break his heart. It gives me "heavy boots" and a heavy heart...
