Happy (early) Patriot’s Day!
So many peoples’ memories of this day is filled with sadness. My personal story of the events is one of inconveniences, and I don't take for granted how fortunate I am to be able to say that. Twenty-three year old Katie had it GREAT. Hundreds of thousands of people have heartbreaking, tragic stories. Loss of husbands, wives, best friends, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles, coworkers, acquaintances...it is my daily hope that we never forget those who gave something of themselves that day. As the saying goes, "All gave some; some gave all."
And so, on Friday, D203 will honor helpers. September 11, 2001, was a horrific date in our history. I don't know anyone alive during that time that cannot detail how they found out about the attacks, where they were, and the emotions that followed. Our children only know this significant part of our lives as a piece of history, which is a blessing. As those who lived through it, we share a responsibility to honor the memory of those lost and to pass along the history to our children in a developmentally-appropriate way. Mr. Rogers, a childhood favorite, has one of my very favorite quotes about painful events. He actually credits his mom with telling him this when he heard or saw something bad that happened: "Look for the helpers. There are always helpers." I absolutely love this perspective. Bad things happen. They are terrifying, painful, and ugly. There is no way to "Pollyanna" your way through it and it's not always healthy to try. You've got to prove to yourself that you can push your way through the difficult times. They occur in every life and need to serve as reminders that we are strong, resilient human beings. The magic of this quote by, apparently Mrs. Rogers, is the reminder that in the most painful of times, you can always see the helpers if you look for them. They take on many titles, but at the end of the day they are simply people who see a need and respond with compassion and timely assistance. They are Patriots in the most beautiful sense of the word: loyal to their country and to the PEOPLE who exist inside it. One day is not enough, but it's something...and I have the feeling that the true Patriots are uncomfortable with even 1 whole day. For what it's worth, a sincere THANK YOU to all who serve in any capacity--military, civil service, medical professionals, caring citizens. You make the rest of us look good:)
I love this country, I love its people, and I love that I get to belong here. We are so fortunate, and I hope we never lose sight of that.