Fifteen Years Gone

It was a Tuesday morning, with beautiful, clear, early fall weather in many places; El Paso, Texas, where I was living, was one of them. It was The Barefooter’s 9th birthday, although we had celebrated with a party & friends on Sunday afternoon (something for which he has always been grateful). We woke up to breaking news on the radio, then ran to the living room to turn on the TV. It couldn’t be true… but it was…

Alan Jackson’s poignant song is one that never fails to make my eyes tear up.

Four planes, 3 buildings, 2 cities, 1 Pennsylvania field…
Nearly 3,000 people died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

9/11 Memorial, Staten Island

A close-up view of the memorial on Staten Island.  The left middle section has two names: one for Deanna Lynn Galante and one for her unborn son, Matthew.

Pentagon Memorial

“Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?”
________________________________________

This post is a partial re-post of one I wrote 4 years ago. It seemed especially appropriate to share today, on the 15th anniversary of so much sorrow and loss. 

 

30, 20, 11

30

It was a time of innocence, a time of wonder, a time before I knew my husband… but 30 years ago, this day was celebrated by a young couple and their families. Happy 30th anniversary to my SIL and her husband! They were just starting out married life together thirty years ago, rapidly followed by starting their family. Now they have the joy of 3 married offspring and 6 grandkids (I’m counting the one due in January).

20

We had a bit of trouble choosing a name for this one, but as soon as we held him, we knew what his name should be…. and luckily, his 16-1/2 month old brother could almost say it, too. 

On Saturday, we drove down to the university to take him out for a birthday meal. He’s not a teenager anymore.

Happy 20th birthday, Encyclopedia Blue!

EB at the farm last month with his cousin’s daughter

11

It was a Tuesday morning, with beautiful, clear, early fall weather in many places: El Paso, Texas, where I was living, was one of them. It was EB’s 9th birthday, although we had celebrated with a party & friends on Sunday afternoon (something for which he has always been grateful). We woke up to breaking news on the radio, then ran to the living room to turn on the TV. It couldn’t be true… but it was…

Alan Jackson’s poignant song is one that never fails to make my eyes tear up.

Four planes, 3 buildings, 2 cities, 1 Pennsylvania field…
Nearly 3,000 people died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

9/11 Memorial, Staten Island

Pentagon Memorial

“Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?”