To the sounds of a baby yelling in the monitor is how I was awaken this morning at 0630. As I slowly peel myself out of the bed to hit snooze on my natural alarm, I noticed how beautiful the morning was already. My first thought was, at least the sun is out already, which meant that I got to sleep in a little later than usual. My second thought brought to my attention of what day this really is. Not only is it the start of football, but it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11. One would have to be in a complete bomb shelter for a month not to know what this Sunday means to America. My reflection was shortly interrupted by the squeals of my two older children coming down the stairs to say good morning and greet me with with hugs and smiles. Soon I was feeding the youngest of my brew while the other two were snuggling on the couch watching Sunday Morning cartoons. Eventually my husband came out to fetch the Sunday paper and sat down on the couch with me armed with the elixir of the day and a smile and a kiss to warm my heart. There we were, Americans celebrating the very essence of what is to be American.
As we read the paper, a thought struck me about what today really means. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and my family was just doing what we do any given Sunday this time of year. We were enjoying each other, and well, waiting for Football to start. All through the paper and all through the TV are stories and thoughts that will truly break the hardest of hearts. Though my heart breaks every day for the loss so many suffered that day, I wonder if those lost would want us to respect this day through mourning, or celebrating who we are as Americans. In places such as New Orleans, they celebrate the life of a lost one through parades and wonderful, lively wakes, instead of mourning through tears and seclusion. I believe they have something they we all should embrace. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't respect the lost of such a day and of those that gave so much to help others, but defy the acts of such horrible people whose true goal was to take away what we hold dear as Americans. They wanted to take away our Freedom; but the truth is, though with many changes, we are still free. We are rebuilding, we are still living. We still have the freedom to make our own decision, whether bad or good. Today my family still has the freedom to enjoy Sunday cartoons, drink coffee, read the Sunday paper and wait for 1200 (CET, of course) to kick off Sundays in the NFL. What better way to celebrate us as Americans, than to enjoy a purely American past time with family. TO tell the truth, after living all over the world and immersed in so many cultures, there is nothing like being an American, in America. It is what my family, my husbands family, myself once, and my husband, who still wears the uniform, choses to do so as Americans. We chose to be American.
So, on any Given Sunday, nothing in our schedule today would have changed. However; it's these simple acts that spark a remembrance to all those lives lost on both that fateful day and the many years after. I shall say a prayer to all those affected through the years, then turn around, hold on to my family and be thankful that I have the freedom to celebrate them. We know what happened yesterday, so lets hold on to what we have today. Shed a tear, dry it, then live the life we are given. As for today, I shall put on my #40 Alsott jersey, eat food that is just not good for me, watch my team whop up on Detroit, and then later, walk to the park as a family and enjoy the valuable time we have. How will you remember? As for now, pre-game is on. GO Bucs!!!! Enjoy this very Given Sunday.
No comments:
Post a Comment