Three years ago today, Rachel and I dropped off Hannah and Stephanie at preschool and went back to her house with Matty and Pete for some tea and chit-chat while the boys pushed trucks around the playroom. Soon enough Rachel's husband called and told us to turn on the TV immediately. We remained glued to the set for the next several hours (during which time, Rachel at last heard from her Wall St. brother, who was safe and healthy). The boys were just toddlers, so we could leave the news on the whole time without their noticing anything. I can just barely conjure up my feelings of disbelief and shock and fear and confusion. At last we had to go back to get the girls at preschool, and two things stand out in my memory. First, I had forgotten that Stephanie was wearing a T-shirt of the Manhattan skyline (her choice that morning), so the Twin Towers were staring me in the face as I tried to be brave and cheerful. Second, the preschool director informed us that we should be on the lookout for any children who might be upset because the preschool's pet dove (yes, dove!) had died suddenly that morning.
The rest is all a blur, although I do recall thinking in those first few scary days and weeks, "What if I have to give birth in a dark basement, all alone?" (I was 8 months pregnant with Julie at the time.) I ended up being grateful that I didn't dare turn on the news anytime Stephanie was around, as I was spared at least some of the nonstop soul-numbing images and commentary during that time. I am still moved to tears at almost any mention of the victims and their families and the many, many ordinary people who acted in extraordinary ways that day.
I believe that the war in Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11. I believe that the 1000+ Americans (and hundreds more from other nations) who have died there have died for nothing. How Many Deaths Will It Take?
In our house at bedtime, we all tell each other what we're going to dream about. Tonight I told Stephanie I was going to dream that Julie lets me sleep late for a change, but what I was really thinking about was PEACE.
I agree absolutely that Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11 or terrorism. It has to do with vengeance for the Gulf War, and wag-the-dog to obscure the damage Bush is doing to the country.(in too many ways to name) Everyone knows that war is unifying and patriotic; that's what he's counting on to re-elect him. I am terrified that his plan is working...
Posted by: Margaret | September 12, 2004 at 02:40 PM