The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
In rememberance of those who gave their lives on 9/11 and to those who continue to fight all over the world so that evil doesn't win, as well as to their family and friends: I will light a candle, say a prayer, make sure my flag is flying and practice a random act of kindness or two in honor of your sacrifice. May HP hold you close. Let us take the time to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us. By the grace of HP hubby could have very easily been in one of the towers had he not sold his business the year before. Life is too short not to love and laugh. Carpe diem. You never know.
Much love and blessings to all you here and your families. You're loved very much.
Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
__________________
It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
On that September day in 2001, my husband and I were celebrating our 1st anniversary in a cabin in the hills. We were having our morning coffee, getting ready to jump in the hot tub. At the tiny kitchen table, he turned on the news. I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth, all I had to do was turn around to see the TV screen. I heard my husband say "OMG!" and I turned around, stood behind him, and we both watched in silent horror as the second plane crashed. Our cell phones wouldn't work from the cabin, so we rushed to the car and drove into town, so we could call our families. I did not know anyone who perished on that sad day, but I came to feel as though I did. Today, I too, will continue to hold them in my heart. I will tell my family and friends that I love them. Yes, and an act or two of kindness. You never know. That is what I tell AH when he gets in his angry mode, is life is too short, we never know when one of us will not come home from work or from running an errand. Thanks for the reminder Kari. In rememberance of all of those who died, and all of those who lost someone on that terrible day. You will not be forgotten, not in my lifetime. Love in Recovery, Becky1
I will never forget the way I felt that day either.
It was a cold hard reality that cut deep into my soul. I was at work when I heard about 1st tower on radio. I went home. I watched the 2nd fall.
My ex-wife came home too. We watched it together. We were having troubles at the time but for that moment we were two people united in our disbelief and horror.
I remember her sitting on my lap and we just held each other and cried.
It is an absolute reminder to me, to live each and every day. We never know when our time will be up here on earth.
I pray that on this day, my HP may wrap His arms around the whole world and shower us with His Healing Love. That all who have lost anyone, anywhere be comforted.
I was at home with my two infants and one toddler and was going on about my day and my husband calls and said "with everything going on I wanted to say I love you all" and I had no idea what he was talking about.
He said "turn on the tv" and I hung up the phone sat on the couch holding one of my baby's and it felt as if someone had cut off my feet and let all my blood drain from my body and then I saw the second plane hit.
All I could think of was "omg, please don't let this be the end of the world". All I could think about were my children and what the world was going to turn out to be for them because of this.
Then reality hit and I started to think of all the families, then I heard there was a daycare there. OMG it was a nightmare. I felt so helpless and I wanted to run and help them.
I have to say that it made me proud to be an American because we all craddled those families and friends who lost someone or were affected by that day. We still love them and will never forget.
I was pregnant with my son, living in WA so it was 3 hours earlier. I was up getting ready for work and was listening to the jokey radio station. My husband had already left for work. I heard it on the radio and thought it was a joke. Then I came out and put on the TV and the phone rang, it was my husband calling to tell me what had happened. I remember being glued to the TV and in a state of shock. I went to work and there was a meeting. Many people there knew people in New York and were concerned. Pretty much the whole meeting was spent watching the TV and finding out about each new horror as it unfolded, the twin towers, the pentagon, the stray plane in the field in PA, the phone calls, the people trapped in the rubble. That was a sad day for America. I wouldn't say those people gave their lives, I would say they were taken, stolen from them. That was the only time this president had the FULL support of this country, that doesn't happen very often for any president. In my opinion that was a wasted gift that could have been used to unite us with the world but instead was used to divide and alienate us from the world community.
A friend of mine told me he is watching all the memorial services on TV. For some reason I can't tune in today to that.
This day was also a memory for me in my relationship with my A. When I came home and woke her up she was not coherent, still drunk from the night before. I felt very lonely watching this by myself. But as the day unfolded I knew that I was in the same place as almost everyone else in this nation.
I will pray today at some quiet point. I will pray: -for those who's lives were lost. -for those who's lives were affected...who felt a lose. -for those who want to harm us....that we may find a common ground upon which to build a relationship -for world leaders, to be guided by shared spiritual truths -with gratitude that though there was this great tradgedy, that it is still possible for indiviuals, as communities, as nations, and as the world, to come together in prayer.
May each of you find comfort in your own way, in remembering this solemn date.
Bob
__________________
You are a perfect child of God and God and I love you just the way you are! (added by me...in that special alanon way)
My flag is flying and my heart is with those people who lost loved ones on that horrible day. My heart is also with the ones who have loved ones fighting so we can be free and for the wonderful men women so willing to sacrafice their lives so that we might have a better and safer place to live. I lift them all up in prayer and pray that God will bless each one of them in a very special way.
I, too, remember that day. I was on the computer just doing something unimportant and thinking about my A son and how he had been arrested a few days earliery and how things were going to turn out for him. He wasn't in jail, that time, thankfully. He called me from 1000 miles away and said..."Mom, have you got your TV on?" I said no and he said, it's awful, turn it on. All I could think of was......oh, no he is on the news........Pharmacist arrested for possession of drugs or something close to that. I got a knot in my stomach as I asked him if he was on the news and remember so vividly him saying to me........NO, it is so much worse than that!! And as I turned the TV on and saw the awful news, he was telling me how he had seen it unfold. I felt sick inside to think that I felt some relief to know that my son was okay and that he was right, this was SO much worse. So, horrible, so uncomprehendable, so absolutely sickening and frightening. I thought about what those people must be going through, what they had gone through and I will never ever forget that day of praying for their lives...........taking the focus off my son and yet putting the focus back on him.......so thankful he was alive and there was hope for him. Hope that those people no longer had and the hope the families must be holding onto that their loved ones were still alive.
It so puts things in prospective to relive that day, the emotion of it all. To realize how thankful we should be for each moment of each day. So, on this day I will remember and I will try to remember that every day that I am given.
I was at work that day, so I didn't know anything about it until customers came in and mentioned it. When I got home I saw it all on the news...the horror, the evil, the anger, the sadness. All those people's lives taken from them. I cried too. I prayed to God in gratitude that my kids were all safe. I prayed to God in gratitude for the things I had even though my own life was in turmoil. May all those people that lost their lives have comfort and joy in heaven.
SenoraBob
__________________
Higher Power doesn't always wrap presents in pretty paper.
I remember this day very well, I mean who could forget.
My hubby and I were seperated. I was pregnant with our second child and had tried to turn on Clifford so our 2 year old could watch that while I got ready for our day. I live in WA as well, so what I saw was all the smoke and discussion of what had just taken place. I wondered why the public access station was playing some movie at that time of day.
I remember that feeling that took over once my brain was able to comprehend that it was not a movie, but real life. I cried for my babies to. I wanted my husband. I felt this extreme need to call my parents.
More than anything I felt for all the families that lost their loved ones. And anger, anger for what I saw as a stupid act of war that hurt many many many innocent vicitms.
I live in a town with strong military presence. We have the shipyard and the nuc sub base. I remember feeling fear as people spoke of the possibility of us being attacked.
I remember the peace that filled me when I remembered that HP was in control, and even though I couldn't understand why what was happening was taking place (and maybe never would) but my HP was in control.
I went to a meeting that night. I can't tell you what was said, but I can tell you that was the best meeting I ever went to.
Karrilyn thank you for starting this thread. I am so glad you did. Your loving heart is a true blessing to this board.
Yours in recovery, Mandy aka Dolphin123
__________________
"We are not punished for our unforgiveness, we are punished by it" Jim Stovall
Here is an Essay I wrote not long after the 9/11 tragedy. I lived in NJ at the time and had a wonderful view of the NYC skyline ~ I can still remember that horrible smell. My niece is a nurse in the city and I have a friend who is a police officer. I had to wait a couple of days to know if they were okay. Thank God they were!
9/11 Essay ~ Tuesday morning everything stopped. All of America stopped and watched in anguish as their sense of security was shaken to the ground.
Since that day we've slowly started to get back to our lives. We have to. Things aren't the same of course, but, the bills remain and hard economic times loom over us much like the thick dust that can be seen hanging over New York City.
But life goes on.
I go to work and I enjoy my job. I really do. While I am working, I am completely in the moment and free from the frenzy, the fear and the uncertainty of the days that lie ahead. Sometimes a reminding word may slip or someone will give you a sad look and you return the look. Understanding that behind all the smiles there is grief and there is fear.
While I drive home I see the American flag and it stirs mixed emotions. Mostly the view evokes a sense of mourning for all that has been lost. It evokes a great sense of pride and unity, which provides me with hope and some sense of safety.
Still, I am not totally absorbed by my feelings or my thoughts. I cannot be. I need to be aware of the road and the other drivers. So briefly I am pleasantly distracted from the thoughts of the tragedy.
Arriving home I am able to stop and in my stillness the thoughts come to me. Feelings overwhelm me and I am thoroughly exhausted. Exhausted from being strong and moving on. It isn't easy. It is physically and emotionally draining.
As I sit typing this, I am looking out of a bay window. I have my American flag fixed to the fence in front of my home. It is dark and gloomy, mirroring my feelings. The flag waves briskly as it is about to rain. And I am about to cry.
God bless America ~ May we all unite and find strength in each other. Be well ~ Pray for peace.
