I remember that day, staring out of my classroom window. It was the day before I was to take off to finish the final preparations for our wedding.

I remember wishing the weather would be as gorgeous on September 16th, 2001 as I took my vows and D took his.

I remember thinking the placecards were not right. I had to fix them.

I remembered I had to confirm the number to the caterer and the crab house where we were having the rehearsal dinner.

I remember my boss coming into my class in tears saying the first tower was hit.

I remember wakening from my fantasy bridal state and feeling like I had just had my head pulled out of my ass and that there were bigger things happening around me.

I remember hearing about tower 2, then the Pentagon, then a missing plane that was off course.

I remember trying desperatley to call my fiancee’, my D and having no luck.

I remember talking to my father who told me through hell or high water that he would be in Baltimore on Sunday if he had to walk over all the bridges in New York to get there.

I remember talking to D who told me he would be at the Gramercy on Sunday with me and the officiant and that was all we really needed.

I remember panicking over all my family and friends who lived in and around the city, who rode trains under the towers, and who walked through the lobby doors and rode the elevators that were now burning.

I remember thinking that our president was hiding under a desk somewhere.

I remember feeling selfish thinking about our wedding and rearringing plans,upon plans, upon plans based on flight schedules and cancellations.

I remember crying a lot.

I remember shutting off the television because I could not cry any more.

I remember seeing my older brother, who waited for hours in the airport to board one of the first flights out of Arizona to Baltimore and thinking he really, truly loved me.

I remember 90 guests, who traveled from the NY,NJ,CT metro area standing up to the terrorists by coming to our wedding and celebrating love and life.

I remember hugging my friend Arnold extra hard because his home was a hairs breath away from the towers.

I remember the quiet kindness that followed us from Baltimore to Canada.

I remember a Canadian fire fighter putting his hand on my shoulder and telling me he was sorry.

I remember a childhood friend who lost his life.

And today, I promise never to forget that peace, kindness, and humanity matter above all else.

The Fab Jacquie Blackman nominated me for the “You Make My Day” award… I am so touched!

In the spirit of the YMMD Award I will:

“Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.”

Here is my 10 Things List (you all know I love a list) with links to my 10 favorite blog reads:

1. Lisa Congdon Art +Craft: this woman really is a brilliant artist. I am in awe of her images.
2. Montessori By Hand: Meg is very inspirational in the things that she makes. Great tutorials, great pictures!
3. Jodi’s Weblog:Jodi is a force of Art, knitting, and all things that lie in-between. Her work is amazing… and accessible through her etsy site.
4. Criminy Jickets: Dave is a great read… and pattern writer! Look for his dishcloth and sock patterns.
5. Brooklyntweed: Jared Flood’s blog is amazing… great pictures and insight into his patterns.
6. The Purloined Letter: Harriet has a very interesting perspective on most everything… and knitting to boot.
7. Go Knit in Your Hat: Carol not only is the creator pf Black Bunny Fibers… she is hysterical. Hands down ROFL.
8. Path to Freedom Journal: How interesting is urban homesteading? Very.
9. Insubordiknit: Jacey spins everything into creative, artistic other things.
10. Carole Knits: the eye candy and volume of knitting alone make me smile. She makes Fridays a complete joy!

Whew! That was rough limiting my reads. There are so many of blogs that make me smile! Go check all of these guys and gals out. I am sure that they will make you smile too!

In honor of my dad… a 10 things post.

1. He was very kind. He would go without and not complain, ever.
2. He was so funny… he did not have to try hard to get a good laugh.
3. He loved us. In that papa bear kind of way. His family was everything to him.
4. He was well liked. He had many friends from the guy who owned the gas station to the mayor.
5. He was incredibly human. In all of the good ways… he knew how to walk on this earth and be kind to his fellow man.
6. He gave me the best step-mom a girl could ever wish for.
7. He played professional football… for a brief time. He loved sports and passed that love along to his kids.
8. He was a proud grandpa Tiger. He loved my boy… he was the first person I told that I was pregnant (after D of course!)
9. He had a very special place in his heart for me. I know that with every fiber of my being. He showed me that many times over… and I only really noticed that as an adult.
10. He was the best dad for me. He knew me… and he was proud of me as a daughter, wife and mother.

Dad, I miss you every day. I love you so much……

I am so proud of the online knitting community. At least the one I have found.

Please go here and read this. The generousity of knitters/spinners/fiber-philes truly blows me away sometimes.

I feel like ideas and kindness like this make the world a little better… and restores some of my faith in mankind.

Namaste’.

5 years ago today I was staring out my classroom window thinking how beautiful the weather was in Maryland and wishing it would never end. It was the day before my last day of work. I was getting married in 5 days and in the throws of last minute/ week before wedding mania.

A colleague came into my classroom and said a plane hit the Twin Towers… and I thought her mad. Another colleague (I was one of the few teachers without students at the moment) ran in and said another plane hit the 2nd Tower. And they were passenger planes. And this was terrorism. In Lower Manhattan. The world stopped for me and my wedding mania ended…. I frantically tried calling my D. I could not find him. I spoke to my dad. He and my family were ok. (They live in CT). I tried Arnold (who lived in the East Village) No Arnold. I found D.. I cried and told him that through hell or high water that we were getting married even if it was just us and the officiant. They could not alter my life that much. But..inevitably…they did.

I stayed glued to the media for the two days following the attacks. Through many phone calls and emails… the next few days unfolded, friends and loved ones were accounted for, people traveled from far and wide to be with us (yes… even on planes) and the wedding went on as scheduled. We celebrated extra hard to throw some joy out into an uncertain world.

We were in Montreal for our honeymoon and it hit me there. People were still unaccounted for. Firemen on the streets of Montreal were collecting donations… people offered me their condolences…. my city… the city and place I loved best in this world… was attacked. And people died…many, many prople died.
My mother told me after my honeymoon that they could not find Chris. Christopher Ingrassia was one of the kindest, most gentle humans on the planet. We all had secret crushes on him in high school… he was athletic and smart… and kind to EVERYONE.
My Family in CT lost a dear friend Candace. If my dad were alive today he would cry again for her loss.

Many of my friends and family have a running away from the destruction story… and they are fortunate that they got out of the towers when they did… or they took a later train… or called in sick to work….

The funerals began… many for some…. and the tributes were never ending…. and then it stopped. I hope the world did not begin to forget and let this insanley evil act fade into memory for fear of reoccurance.

I will never forget my 9/11/01…. I have vowed to try and walk this earth in a gentler, kinder way. I have tried and will continue to try to bring kindness into an uncertain world.

Namaste’.

Edit:

OK… I have been a flippin’ mess all day from the tributes. I keep tearing up on and off….

I was thinking that tonight may be a bad night to host some knittah friends at Casa Mama… but am rethinking that. It is good…. really, really good.