10 years ago, today, Extremest Muslim hatred for all things American, and all things Western Civilization, was brought to our shores.
We all remember where we were that day, that week.
Some think about where they might have been...
From Friday morning, Sept. 7, to Monday Night, Sept. 10, I was, um, hanging out, in Chicago, with some friends, all of whom I had got to know in the 3 years since I got a computer, and went online, joining a long forgotten Community on the old Time Magazine Online website, some of whom I'd met, face to face, the previous year at a wedding in Phoenix, others I was meeting for the first time.
Monday night I was on a plane back to Los Angeles and, early in the morning of Sept. 11th, I was on busses back to Pomona, and then to bed....
I spent my first morning in Chcago being given a tour of the city by the amazing Carolyn Daily O'Connor, may she rest in peace, a wonderful, opinionated, woman who I knew as 1 of 5 remarkable people I first got to know in 2000, all of whom have played a part in encouraging my personal, and creative, growth, over the last Decade Plus, and 3 of whom are still very much a part of my life (Another of the group, dear Susan, also passed away the same year as Carolyn.).
Friday afternoon, and night, and Saturday, and Sunday, were days to explore the city with friends, go to a Cubs game, and dinner, take silly, and serious, and sillier (Not shown because I couldn't decide among them, and they were related to "The Great Hooters Escapade" that the gentleman above, and I, went on, um, hee, hee!) photos, and set the cares of the world aside for a few days.
I awoke on the morning of Tuesday, Sept.11, 2001, and turned on the TV news as I always did...
And sat there in horrified disbelief, as the reports came in of the first plane crash, and replays of it flashed across the screen.
Soon I witnessed, with everyone else watching, the 2nd crash, and learned of the Pentagon crash, as well as what happened in PA.
At work, that evening, I had the radio on, and went back to the TV that night at home.
My emotions, and those of Americans nationwide, were a jumble of fear, tears, anger, outrage, confusion, questions, disbelief, patriotism, and more.
By the middle of 2002 I had moved to Costa Mesa, here in Orange County and, with the encouragement of my 5 friends, begun my career as a creative writer, and blogger (A personal blog, & soon a bike blog), with my occasional "co-blogger", my Cat Nikita, alongside me. ;-D
Over the last decade I've learned a lot about myself, and written a lot, been interviewed in newspapers, quoted in a book, had letters to the editor published, confounded PETA, Ask a Mexican, and Urlesque, among many others, read my poems in public, made 2 presentations before audiences about cycling, been interviewed twice at a Red Carpet Charity event about Cat Blogging, learned new skills, met many new, and wonderful, people both on line, and in person, via my old bike blog, and the Cat Blogging of Nikita (Now with his own blog since 1/1/2010), gained a 2nd Cat (Elvira), last year, moved to Santa Ana, in 2004, and spent 6 years working in telecommunications thru the Summer of 2010, and developed new hopes, and dreams along the way, especially over the last year.
Man recalls 9/11 with 420 crosses, 1,417 flags: A Santa Ana firefighter spends hours and hours honoring those who died (Includes Photo).
An Eagle Scout's 2002 Project still stands today...
"A reddened piece of steel balances on a concrete pedestal, a quiet reminder to Orange County residents of distant acts of terrorism.
The beam is part of the wreckage from the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, which stands as a memorial to all victims of terrorism."
WE ARE AT WAR, folks !
NEVER EXCUSE!
NEVER FORGIVE!
NEVER FORGET !
ALWAYS REMEMBER !
The War Against Terror is being fought all around the world, probably in ways the general public has no clue about.
With the threat of a possible nuclear Iran, and North Korea, and the continued destabilization of the rest of the Arab World, surrounding Israel, not to mention issues in Europe, & Great Britain, tossed into the mix, Western Civilization must know that the battle for its continued survival will be a long, and difficult one.
Don't you doubt it for 1 minute !
Please pause a moment...
Reflect back (Michelle Malkin - 9/11/2001 & Ron Silver - 8/30/2004), & consider how far you have come in the years since...As I have done...
and then move forward, into the future, making the best life you can for yourself, your family if you are married, and America, at the polls (As you see fit) come the elections of November 2012.
I know I will.
****UPDATE - 8AM: The Los Angeles Times & Orange County Register Sunday Finals - 9/11/2011****
****END UPDATE****
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