Teemings Extra

from White Dragon

Monday was my birthday. The professor in my calculus 2 class gave us a sheet to work on that said Sept.10, 2001. I thought that was neat and figured I'd hold on to it for amusement's sake. I was up way past my bedtime and had a good day.

Tuesday I woke up to my husband calling to tell me to turn on the news. I flipped on the TV I think just shortly after the last plane hit. I watched the towers and the pentagon burn, and i cried. I watched the towers fall on live TV, and i cried. I heard about the plane crash in washington, and i cried. I cried for the dead, the wounded, the families and friends, the rescuers and volunteers. I cried because there was no way i could get there from Kansas City, Missouri, to help.

Later I went to class and got another sheet from my professor, dated Sept.11, 2001. I put the one from the other day next to this new one, and marveled at how different one day can be from another. And, i cried.

Today, I stopped crying. As I lay in the sunlight streaming through my window, smelling the fresh air and hearing life go on around me, i decided I will no longer mourn. I will not mourn for the loss of these innocents.

Instead, I will live. I will live strongly, I will love fiercely, and I will fulfill my dreams and help those around me to do the same. I will embrace the differences of others and I will rejoice in whatever we can share. And i will do so, a thousand times over, ten thousand times over, whatever it takes, for everyone that has been lost. It will be hard, my willpower tested, my patience strained and my heart broken. But i will live!

I beg all of you to help me. If you have a heart beating in your chest, then you have the power of life and love that we all need so badly. Help me; help us. Help us live for those who can't.

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