Remembering a Day

Remembering a day we all have said we would "never forget" is harder than it looks. We all want to honor the thousands of lives that were lost on that tragic day, and how we choose to do that doesn't really matter as long as we do remember. As Americans, I don't think we like to remember that bad things really do happen. In our culture I don't feel we grieve well, but that's a topic for another day. This week I have been hearing and reading a lot of conversations as to how we as a Nation should go about remembering, and really I personally think that we should all feel free to remember and honor the heroes of that day however we choose. So that's what I am doing here, remembering.... because;

I will never forget.

For me it's easy to remember how many years have passed since that tragic day because I was still pregnant with my third child, Solomon. He turns 10 this October 4th, and so that's how I know 10 years have passed since 9/11. During his pregnancy I remember being so full of hope. I was excited to find out we were having our first son. I was excited for his future, little did I know that the year he would be born would make history for a tragic reason. Forever, that will be a part of his story. That he was born a month after 9/11.

I will never forget.

I am sure most of us can remember exactly where we were when we saw or heard the news that morning. I was at home with my girls who were only 3 and 1 and a half. We were watching PBS Sesame Street which was the normal morning routine after daddy had left for work. My friend Alyse, who also happened to be my neighbor at the time, called to share the news with me. I thought something had happened to her or one of her kids and was shocked to hear otherwise.

I will never forget.

It's hard for me to imagine raising Solomon without his dad being there to help him, but that is exactly what so many have had to do because they lost their soul mates, and parent partners that day. For Solomon there have been countless first days of school, boy scout mtgs, baseball games, birthday parties, and bedtime prayers said with his dad by his side all these years. For thousands of other children this 9/11 marks how many things they didn't get to do with their loved ones. That's a lot of candles that didn't get blown out. A lot of wishes that didn't get made. A lot of prayers that never got spoken.

I will never forget.

Recently, tragedy struck again in the little town where Solomon was born, Carson City NV. A random gunman shot and killed 4 people yesterday, and now this week before 9/11, will never be forgotten for all those families. That was only 4 people, and I am sure the town of Carson City will be forever changed because of yesterday. I called my hometown of Carson City to make sure that none of my loved ones who still live there were at I HOP that tragic morning. They were not. My mom however taught one of the boys who lost his dad this week. He will never be the same. On 9/11 we lost nearly 3000 people. That's a lot of stories cut short. That's a lot of teachers who had students who lost parents.....

I will never forget.

After 9/11 I remember how many flags went up, how many bumper stickers were posted "Never Forget", and how many lives and their stories were being played over and over on television. I remember being somewhat glued to the television. I remember being so thankful that I lived on the west coast far away from what had happened. I remember feeling safer because I didn't live by a big city or any national monuments. I know that seems selfish, but I was glad my little family was far from the appearance of danger. We were far away from what happened. But, I also remember not feeling safe for quite some time. I was not directly affected by that day. All my loved ones came home that night. I lived on the west coast. It happened on the east coast. I felt I had no real reason to panic, but I remember starting to have panic attacks shortly after that event for the first time in my life.

I will never forget.


What will I do this year, 10 years later?
I thought this was a great way to remember;

http://blog.sojo.net/2011/08/22/jesus-bombs-and-ice-cream/

Check out this creative way to remember.
If only I lived in Philly :)

Well, I don't live in Philly, but I do live in Washington now, and that means I live close to the wonderful Mike Farina family.
I will be at the Beautiful Amoure Farina's birthday party. That's right she was born on 9/11, and if we aren't celebrating her newest grandbaby, we will be celebrating that life goes on and that the most precious thing we can do to remember is to LIVE!

I Will Never Forget.

Facts for my 2011( or I guess some you could say are Resolutions)

Here I am re-capping the first week of 2011 and thinking, "WOW what a great week!" Okay, so only one week in does not = a great year already, but you know me, the eternal optimist that I am I think it really will be a great year.

In this year ;

I will have an official teenager in the house, one of my own this time. Not just one of those random teens that show up on my door step! That's right the Scofield's head into the official teen years on May 28th as Emma turns 13.

I will no longer be "forsaking" hanging out with some of the coolest people on earth on Sunday mornings just because I don't
feel like it, or my bed seems more attractive, or because truthfully I just don't want to be vulnerable. I am done with the theme song being "I am a Rock... I am an Island" so not true!

I will have only one child left that is NOT in double-digits, when Solomon turns 10 in October. This is a really, really big deal considering that some of my favorite people on earth are those that don't belong in the double-digit club!

I will reclaim not only my waist, but more importantly my physical health! I am over being lazy and carefree about what I eat. I am done not caring about myself because frankly, if I don't care then no one else will ! BBKH- here I come!

I will see my oldest sister Jenny get married to her "Mr. Brownskin" in June. And will be in the Brown state for that month as well :) Looking forward to this , really so much. WOW, what a treat this will be!

I will master the art of crocheting.

I will have lived 2 years outside the state that I was raised in. Some said,( Alyse Locke) we would be back after 2 years. We shall see!! Tempting for sure, happening probably not, sorry Weezer.

I will be going back to school in the Fall to finally, FINALLY get a stinking piece of paper that says I am an official teacher now ;)
Sheesh, that will change everything!! NOT!! But at least I will have the sense of accomplishment there that is long overdue.

Some of these you could call resolutions, some you could say are promises, and some of this is just plain hard-core FACT! I am one determined person so I am gonna go with FACT- this will happen! And then of course I do plan on doing the work that will make it so!