NINE ELEVEN

We lived through another anniversary of 9/11. This time of year is always a good one for reflection and remembrance. Not only is it bringing back a sense of loss, but as every year goes by, it also brings more hope and an appreciation for what we have and who is in our lives.

Television not only brought the tragedy into our homes as it was happening, it also provides some of the healing we need to move on. The shows seem to multiply as more and more stories are found and told. Heroism is celebrated, as it should be, and makes us wonder, “What would I do?”, if given the same choices.

We all can't be John Wayne.

Some of us are destined to do no heroic feat in our entire lives. No saving a life, no inspiring a child, no rescuing a cat from a tree. It doesn't make us bad. Everyone can't be an astronaut, a police officer, or a janitor. We are who we are. Dreams can make us be anything we want to be, but the harsh reality is, we are who we are.... until we decide to be something more.

There were normal people who saved others from an early grave by going above and beyond. Not just the fireman and police, but co-workers, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, daughters and sons. They put their own safety aside and helped those who needed it. Many stories have come out and I love to hear them all. Sometimes, faith in humanity gets tested, yet we have examples that show we can be something other than destructive, selfish, greedy, and soulless.

There is a growing realization that 9/11 changed people far more than we ever imagined. People became more than they were before. Not only families of victims, but folks from all across the world. More compassionate, more artistic, more driven to affect change, and a better version of themselves than if the planes ever reached their targets.

I have heard countless people say that it inspired them to do the things they had put aside. Painting the picture, writing the words, looking at life in a much different light and trying to make a lasting impression. Teachers, construction workers, retirees, you name it, these folks decided to be more than they were and the direct cause was an act of terrorism. There is a silver lining to everything, no matter how awful. Remember that the next time you think things are really bad...

Are you ready to be a newer, better you? You don't have to wait for the next September, you know.

Today is a great day to change.

My 15 minutes of fame.... or was it 2?????

I was reminded recently of the connection to 9/11 that my 2 minutes of TV time had.... NO not in being accused of terrorism! (97 virgins is NOT my version of heaven...)

It seems so long ago that the towers came down and charitable giving took center stage. Everywhere you went, firemen with empty boots were asking for donations, and the people gave, and gave, and gave.... I looked at this and asked myself the obvious question and wrote the local paper.....


Letter to the Editor of The Patriot News:

I feel like Scrooge in this vast giving mood of America.

What I don't understand is why. Why do people give to the families of victims from 9/11? Sure. it is a tragedy. It always is whenever someone loses a loved one. Was it more deserving than the poor family down the street?

Should the kids be entitled to a free college education? If the victim didn't care enough to take care of his/her family if they weren't around, through savings or insurance, why should it be important to us? If the family prepared for something bad to happen (like the rest of us have to do!), should they ALSO get benefits from the charity? If not, then why?

Since almost everyone involved was at work, and I'm sure benefits are being paid, what else are we, as a society, expected to do? Where does the responsibility for taking care of your own problems end?

It's not that I'm a heartless, soulless human being. I just want to ask the questions that I haven't heard anyone else ask. I feel for the families and friends of the victims. I also feel for the people around here that lose someone and no one notices or seems to care. Those families are the ones who could truly USE the help, but won't get it because it isn't the THING TO DO right now. I think that people just do it because people are doing it. They are not thinking or debating, which is sad.

If they want to give support or just money, they have no further to look than their local neighborhood. Folks are in need on every street, in every town, and every state in the U.S.. I wonder if those who donated would have given to something else if 9/11 never happened.

I hope this giving mood continues long after the rebuilding is done. I hope that the problems arising from having so much money for the victims families doesn't affect the spirit of America.

While greed grabs the headlines, the basic good from human beings will always win in the end.


The feedback I received was all positive and thought-provoking. Everyone was happy to see the outpouring of compassion, even if it WAS misdirected. One of those who contacted me was a local TV reporter who was looking for an angle that was similar. He claimed to be working on a spot and wanted to use ME! huh...... He showed up at work and we spent 30 minutes or so talking about the letter and ultimately ended up with the best 12 seconds ever put on television! It was quite an interesting experience for sure....