Two Women....

Today I read two articles, when stood side by side both women mirrored each other, maybe not in style, but in the way they lived their lives. The women are: Eleanor Mondale and Kara Kennedy.

Both women were from prominent political families. Both women campaigned for their fathers, and both women had cancer. Both women lived life on their own terms, with dignity, grace, and a love of life that would not stop them even when several operations for lung cancer sidelined Kara for a while, and an in-operable brain tumor shrunk with chemotherapy and radiation sidelined Eleanor for bit. Both women fought the cancer and won, Kara surviving, accepting the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" for her father. Eleanor turned to radio broadcasting until the cancer reared its ugly head again. Neither woman went down without a fight. 

My heart goes out to both families that lost a daughter, a sister, a mother. The world lost two women who did their very best when faced with adversity. Both women are role models for children of politicians today. Rest in peace Eleanor and Kara. 

Remembering 9/11...

Today is 9/11, it is a day this nation will NEVER, EVER forget. Like those who remember where they were when the attack at Pearl Harbor happened, I know that there is not any one of us who does not remember where we were when this attack happened. Like FDR stated in his famous radio address during WWII, "...this is a day that will live in infamy...". It will, we as Americans have become resilient, we have shown the world that while we are a "melting pot" we are AMERICANS, we fly one flag, we support and defend the constitution of the United States of America, and WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY. 


In know I will never forget where I was, how I felt, how I watched as the second plane hit the second tower. How when I went home I tried calling my cousin who worked for the WTC Properties, but could not reach him, we finally found out a few hours later he was not in the building, thank God. I watched as firefighters, police officers, rushed in while everyone else was rushing out. I watched as the buildings crumbled, crushing everything in it's path, and covering the area with grey blanket of dust. I remember, praying rosary after rosary for those in the buildings, the  people trying to do their jobs, the children who went to school across the street, and in all that carnage I saw the church which stood not damaged in any way. It gave me hope. Hope that there were survivors, hope that whomever did this would be caught. 

Then another report came, a plane crashed into the Pentagon. The Pentagon, the symbol of our armed forces, the symbol of the men and women who choose to put on a uniform and serve OUR country, OUR flag. I watched as firefighters once again rushed in as others ran out. Again, I prayed for survivors.

Then another report, of a plane going down in a field, crashing because four men chose to give up their lives to save another target in Washington, DC. These four men, came together, formed a plan, charged the cockpit knowing that they may not, would not survive but they would save lives. Again, I prayed. 

I called my daughter's school. The school was on "lock down" meaning that all of the school children were together in the gymnasium, some of them not knowing what was going on. But knowing "something" was very wrong. My girlfriend picked up her son and my daughter that day from school, she held both of them tight, that night as she watched the news with my mother and I she asked, "Why?" and I could not give her an answer. Today we know the answer to that question.

I put up my flag that day, I kept it up day and night. I bought socks and t-shirts that were given to the rescue people who came from all over the U.S. to do their part. They worked tirelessly for days and weeks looking for survivors, then looking for the fallen. I watched young men and women walk into recruiting centers to volunteer to serve our country, knowing full well they would be going to a war they may never come back from. I went to prayer services, I held hands with others as we prayed for those lost that day, and for the United States. 

I have not forgotten that day, I truly doubt I ever will. I shaped how I travel, how much has changed when I buy a train ticket. How much the New York skyline has changed. As the new "Freedom Tower" rises like a phoenix from the ashes, I will never forget being a teenager, standing at ground level and looking up at the twin towers at amazement. I will never forget how I feel when I walked by the new site, while it is amazing, for me it reminds me that we will never be "innocent" again.

To the Firefighters, EMT's, Police Officers, & Armed Forces, "THANK YOU". You are all in my thoughts and prayers this day and every day. 

Summer Vacation...

We all have written the essay, "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" at least once or more in our lives. I think I wrote it at least three times in grammar school with the same vacation. As a child growing up we (my family and I) visited with my mother's family in Columbus, Ohio. First of all I need to explain that my grandpa Dominic & my Aunt Rose came to spend summers with our family ever summer from the time I was very little, so the last two weeks of August were spent driving them home, seeing all my relatives, playing, swimming, riding a horse (my very favorite thing of all) and generally having a good time. When it was time to come home I always cried, I loved being in Ohio, to this day, I love visiting there. 

This summer I spent 1-1/2 days driving to southwest Missouri to celebrate my daughter's birthday with her. We spent the first part of our day at the salon having our nails done, and the evening & night at "The Track" in Branson where she and her nieces drove go carts, played laser tag, played arcade games, yes I even played some of the arcade games, bumper cars, and at the end of the evening I watched her & her niece strap themselves into a harness which would live them 100 feet into the air, and drop them. The name of this daredevil ride, "Ozark Mountain Skycaoster". Let me just say that while I admired my daughter's chutzpah at doing this, the mother in me was cringing just a little. Yes she screamed, as did her niece but all was well when they finally slowed down enough to get back to earth. Needless to say this is not for the faint of heart. I enjoyed being in Missouri and spending time with my daughter. I do miss being away from her and being part of her everyday life. But being able to spend time with her, hearing her laugh, knowing she is excelling in school and in life makes us being apart all worthwhile.

While on my return to upstate New York, I stopped in Columbus, Ohio. I was able to spend time with my son (there are NO "steps" in my life or home!) and his mom. We got to spend time talking, laughing, and enjoying a few adult beverages along the way. His mom and I were able to have breakfast together two mornings which was nice because we have become friends over the years. The other two days I spent with a young lady I babysat when I was a teenager, who became a new mom recently. I was able to hold her son, who is a joy. I was able to have supper & dessert with one of my aunts, and visit with another. When I left on Friday morning, I was again feeling the same way as I did as a child, a feeling of leaving the best place on earth (okay so I am not a fan of I-270, the 670 or the 315, but I still love Columbus). 

My summer vacation reminded me that it is nice to take time to visit places of our childhood. Yes it changed, the city is larger, my family has moved from the familiar places where I once played are now new places for me to visit. I drove through Worthington, Short North, Clintonville, Westerville, and by The Ohio State University.

This vacation I spent time doing the things I wanted to do for a change: read a book, watch the sunrise, watch the sunset, drive home leisurely, enjoy my time with my family and friends. Vacations should be this way at least once in a lifetime.