Six Months After 9/11

[Flar's Freyja]

It occurred to me this morning that it's been six months since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. My son went to basic military training for the Air Force on 9/4. He wasn't allowed to communicate with me for several weeks and I remember the stress and anxiety that I went through during that time. More than anything else, I worried what he was thinking and feeling. He's 18 years old and I was so proud of him for making this decision to serve our country. He turned down two football scholarships and chose the military instead. But I also wondered if he'd made this choice without really believing in the reality of war. He is in the Air National Guard, and I tried to calm myself by telling myself that he wouldn't go anywhere as quickly as the full time forces, but then I heard that we were utilizing everyone. Shortly after that, another friend who is in his flight was deployed and has been waiting on base for orders ever since. He was supposed to be sent home this month and was just told that he'll be there until at least September. He has a wife and two children. Combined with my son's news, it appears that he will be going also at that time. Another friend has a 19 year old son who is in the Navy and is already shipped out, although not to a war zone at present.

My son, Jesse, came home from drills at the local base yesterday and told me that he will be deployed in September. Jesse is a big title winning power lifter and was a linebacker in high school. He told me that he was okay with it. He might be a young adult now, but he's still my little boy and the look in his eyes tells me that he is a little scared. I know that it's six months away, but I'm already stressing. I was even crazy enough to tell him to get his girlfriend pregnant so we'd have a little piece of him in case something happens. I also have two other sons who can be called. One completed his training in the Army and was able to get himself out because he didn't like it, but it was a training discharge and he can also be called back.

The loss of life from the attacks is sickening, and I know that we have to retaliate and this involves sacrifice. It just hits so much closer to home when one of your own may be sacrificing themselves.

I'm sure that some of you are in a similar position, and I wanted to request that we all remember and send prayers and protective energy to all members of our armed forces and their families.

[Niamh]

They're going to be having a huge memorial and prayer service at Battery Park in New York City today, as well (I'm sure) as many, many smaller ones throughout Manhattan. Many events have been planned around the US for the six month mark.

I can't imagine what it must be like for you and others who have family members and loved ones in the armed forces during a time of war. I will be thinking about you and praying for you.

[tangerine]

Freyja, my thoughts are with you and anyone else who has family that gets sent over there. Most of all, I'm praying for all those men and women that serve our country and make such a huge sacrifice for us all. May they always be blessed.

[Man/Wolf]

Yes, we need to say prayers and send our love and energy to our troops.
And while we are praying, let us not forget to pray for peace so that our young men and women no longer need to be placed in harm's way.

[Flar's Freyja]

And while we are praying, let us not forget to pray for peace so that our young men and women no longer need to be placed in harm's way.

Yes, and not just for those in our country but for innocent people all over the world. April 19th is also coming again soon, and we must not forget. I didn't lose anyone that I knew personally, but several of my friends did. I will always remember the agony of a close friend whose relative was one of the last bodies found.

[Old Witch]

My prayers are with you Freya........

[Niamh]

I am always praying for peace. There is so much fighting going on all over the world. Some of it never makes the news, things we never hear about. We definitely need to pray for peace.

[Flar's Freyja]

Thanks, all, for your prayers and support. I feel a bit selfish, but these types of events do make us appreciate more what and who we have that are so precious to us.


I am always praying for peace. There is so much fighting going on all over the world. Some of it never makes the news, things we never hear about. We definitely need to pray for peace.

And the very thought that you or a loved one can go to work one day and get blown away.......

[Ball-Bhreac Ròn]

This morning on the news the first video footage of inside the towers as they collapsed was released (well, onto British tv as far as I know)...a French guy was just making a documentary on a day in the life of an American fire fighter. When the first plane went overhead, he got it all on film. He then proceded into the first tower with a firefighter, and was in there right through the second tower being hit, the second tower collapsing...luckily, he escaped before the first tower collapsed.

On Sept 11th, I felt sorrow for all the people that died...but I never really grieved, until today. This video showed the terror they went through. I just sat through it all in tears, it was so scary. Although it's six months too late, I can now say I actually *feel* something for everyone that died, and for all the firefighters involved.
I hope something like this never happens again.

Freya, I'm sending all my prayers and good wishes to you.

[kblackthorne]

You might want to peek in on the last page of the "The Cloud & Tree" thread. We've been talking about it over there, as well.

[Enchantedlight]

The "twin towers" of light brought home the void that had been created.
This was no longer just Ground Zero. Looking at the beams of light shining into the night sky, I "saw" the people going about their daily work in those beams.
I hope they never rebuild on that patch of land and the beams will be left instead.

[Flar's Freyja]

You might want to peek in on the last page of the "The Cloud & Tree" thread. We've been talking about it over there, as well.

Thanks, I will. Thanks, all, for your thoughts and prayers. I've been very busy and not thinking about this very much, I think I needed this to bring me back into focus.

[Faery-Wings]

Freya, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your sons. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you to even let him out of your sight right now.

One of our best friends was in the Army, got out after 6 years, and was in the Guard on the 11th. He was at Fresh Kills that afternoon. He re-enlisted, went back to school for bio-chemical and nuclear specialist. He said he might be shipped out to Kuwait soon. This is hard for us- so I can't imagine it being my child.

I am sure part of you is very proud of him and part of you wishes he had nothing to do with the army. But we are all so thankful there are people like him who are there to serve our country.

Blessings and good wishes for all of you.

Chris

[Niamh]

My cousin worked at the Trade Center. Every day I am grateful that he went to work very early that day and ignored the announcements that everything was OK and to continue working. He got out alive.

Yesterday was more difficult for him than I can possibly imagine. He went back to work in Manhattan for the first time in six months (his company had temp space in NJ). His office is now in the Morgan Stanley building, which was right across from the Trade Center. Now his office overlooks "ground zero."

We're all going through so many different things right now... still recovering from 9/11, and dealing with the war. I guess what I'm saying is we really need to take care of ourselves and each other and pray.

[Mercuria]

Freyja- Even though I'm against the way the U.S has chosen to retaliate, I really hope that your sons (and anyone else you know) come out of this war alive and well. I'm not a mother, so I can't comprehend what you must be feeling, but I can imagine how I'd feel if someone I knew was sent to war.

Stay strong,
Mercuria

[Flar's Freyja]

I appreciate all of your good thoughts, and I've calmed down a bit and have accepted it. Yes, it is difficult to let him out of my sight but we do have to live our lives. And we all realize that any of us could walk out the door and have something else happen. I guess this just makes that a little more real.

I've lost quite a few friends and relatives during the past few years. When I was younger, these things did not affect me as they do now. The loss of a dear friend who was quite young and died suddenly this past summer inspired me to make some major changes in my own life, including leaving a very stressful job. I think we all need to look at this as an inspiration to do the best we can to make sure that we express our love to our families and friends. We never know that when we say goodbye that it won't be the last time.

I'll keep all of you in my prayers.

[Desert_Shadow]

Freya, may the Goddess protect you and your family, along with all the other brave souls who are in harm's way. May she give the strength we need to get some sanity back into this world!
(((HUGS)))