Today is the 10th anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks that struck our nation on September 11, 2001. There has been a lot in the news lately about the families affected and their stories. Many have asked, "Where were you when it happened?"
I was a college student at Iowa State University and only had classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday and Thursday I worked at the Seed Science Laboratory on campus. September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday. My roommate, Megan, knocked on my door that morning shortly after my alarm had gone off telling me to turn on my tv. I sat on my bed for what felt like a long time and watched the Today Show replay of the first plane hitting the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Just a few moments later, a plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center. Maybe it's from all of the media coverage that we still see today, but I can still picture the plane headed for the second tower, the fire and implosion from it hitting, all of the debris - dust, building pieces, paper - flying through the air.
I was glued to the tv but knew I needed to get to work. I drove to the commuter parking lot and boarded the CyRide bus to campus as I had done every other day. The bus was packed, which was normal for a route at a quarter-til the hour. Shortly after the front doors closed and we pulled away a girl standing near me received a call on her cell phone. She was ecstatic to hear the person's voice on the other end and after a very quick conversation, she hung up and told another bus-rider that it was her sister. She worked at the World Trade Center but had an appointment and had planned on going to work later that morning. I had goosebumps for this stranger and her sister. While enroute to work, a plane had crashed into the Pentagon and the White House had been evacuated. All aircraft was grounded across the U.S.
As I expected, there was a somber tone at the lab that day. The normal buzz of student workers talking about classes, plans for that evening or weekend and funny stories was null. The usually quiet background of a radio playing was overruled by a much louder news radio that was continually updating the happenings across the country. I remember hearing that the South Tower had collapsed and wondering how many lives had been sacrificed of those that worked in the building, unable to escape. And what about all of the fire and rescue workers who had rushed INTO the building when everyone else was rushing OUT? I felt numb and sad. Just a few moments later there was a news report of another plane crashing in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. About a half hour later the North Tower collapsed. There was buzz around the lab of who would have organized such a terrible thing and I remember hearing some of the (full-time, permanent) adult staff talking about bin Laden. I was so out of the loop in world affairs that I thought the person they were talking about was named Ben Laden -- NOT Osama bin Laden. I'd never even heard of him but that was about to change.
My boss visited with me for a little while before lunch and told me if I wanted to go home early that day I could. I don't remember if he told everyone that or if somehow he could see how shaken I was. I took him up on the offer and went back to my apartment to watch the devastation over and over.
There are several things that will stick with me forever...
- The image of the hundreds and hundreds of posters with people's faces that were missing.
- The photos from Ground Zero days and weeks after the attacks of the inches of dirt and dust that littered the streets, the smoke and fires that were still burning in the rubble and I imagined the loved ones buried there that would never be found.
- The stories of the people on the flights, especially those on Flight 93 who counter-attacked the takeover of their plane and crashed it in a field instead of what is imagined the destination of Washington, D.C. As well as the stories from victim's families... the children left without a parent, or sometimes both parents... the pregnant women who gave birth after 9/11 and those babies (now 10 years old) who will never know their fathers.
- I'm humbled by the spouses, parents, children and friends of the victims who chose to forgive and honor their loved ones in symbolic ways by choosing to help others.
When I hear Alan Jackson's Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) I remember...
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Cousin's Vacation
I've renamed the Feldpausch family vacation to the Cousin's Vacation. The greatest part of the vacation is the kids getting to play with their cousins, so it is a fitting new name. They have so much fun together and look forward to it for weeks beforehand. This year's trip was in July (I'm behind on my blogging!) and the destination was Minnesota.
Abby, Claire, Adele and Lucas.
Nick, Caleb, Will and Lucas.
We spent one day at the Mall of America.
Woody, the life-size Lego structure, and Lucas.
Will was very excited to see Woody.
Then the girls went here...
We had lunch at the American Girl Bistro. So cute! The girls, and their dolls, loved it.
Ironically, about two weeks before we went on Counsin's Vacation Hannah received a gift from Marv and Rosemary - her very own American Girl doll, Bitty Baby, and a stroller. I couldn't resist buying Bitty Baby some new outfits and accessories. It will be awhile before Hannah plays with her, but it sure was fun to shop for her.
The boys went to a boy-like place for lunch that didn't include dolls. :-) Then we all met back together and the kids enjoyed the amusement rides. 
Lucas and Nick drove the Big Rig together.
What a serious bumper car driver!
He loved crashing!
Hannah was, as usual, a good sport to be strolled around while the big kids had their fun.
She is actually starting a yawn - she must not have been very impressed. Look at Lucas' happy face!
We spent most of the time at the water park.
Get ready water...
...here he comes!
Splash!!
Again! Again!
Lucas, Will and Claire watching a cartoon together.
The funny thing about this picture is that Nick and Caleb were in our room... so neither of them were actually going to sleep in this bed. They just crawled in and got comfy to watch America's Funniest Home Videos. Love it!
Adele with Felicity and Abby with Kit, and their newly purchased doll clothes.
Nick (6), Caleb (10), Will (2), Lucas (3), Abby (9)
Adele, (8), Hannah (6 months), Claire (5)
Can't wait until next year!
Monday, September 5, 2011
another first
Hannah attended her first ISU football game. The weather was really yucky, but in true Cylcone fashion, we still had a good time.
Aunt Karen and Uncle Dom stopped by our tailgate, too. It was fun to visit with them!
It rained off and on pretty much all afternoon but that didn't stop Lucas from having fun.
He did, however, stay away from the grass that had about 8" of standing water. Thank goodness!
Uncle Brian was there to play, too!
After attempting seven shots of Lucas and Hannah together, this is the best I got. Hannah was wearing her super-cute cheerleader outfit from hawkeye fan Erin.
Gramma Connie wrestling the kids.
Family pic before heading into the stadium.
The cool, new scoreboard/video screen. The picture is unbelievably clear and HUGE.
Lucas was glued to the field; he loved it! Uncle Brian taught him something new -- if you ask Lucas what he will be doing in 16 years he will tell you he will be playing football for Cy.
Hannah slept through the first quarter of the game. She was a happy girl when she woke up, though!
It was a roller coaster of a game, but they managed a win. A good start to the season!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
neighbors
We live on a quiet, dead-end street; it is great for Lucas to ride his bike and play in the yard without too much traffic. The neighbors two doors down are friends of ours and they have three little girls. They tease that Lucas is the closest they will get to having a boy at their house. :) The great part is that Caylie and Jenna love playing with Lucas. As a 2nd grader and Kindergartner, respectively, they could easily choose to now play with the "little" neighbor boy. Thankfully, they enjoy playing with Lucas because he loves it when "Jaylie and Kenna" are outside. {Sometimes he mixes up the sounds of their names.}
This summer, there was lots of running back and forth between houses... swimming pools, slip and slides, sprinklers, bikes, scooters, big wheels, swing sets and sidewalk chalk... lots of hours of fun.
The girls are sweet and always have stories to tell me. Caylie is a care-taker and I know Lucas is in good hands when she is around. Jenna has a creative imagination and might have a wild streak in her, too. Their sister, Ella, is exactly six months older than Hannah. Those two will have lots of fun soon, too!
We are thankful for wonderful neighbor kids and they have great parents, too!
This summer, there was lots of running back and forth between houses... swimming pools, slip and slides, sprinklers, bikes, scooters, big wheels, swing sets and sidewalk chalk... lots of hours of fun.
The girls are sweet and always have stories to tell me. Caylie is a care-taker and I know Lucas is in good hands when she is around. Jenna has a creative imagination and might have a wild streak in her, too. Their sister, Ella, is exactly six months older than Hannah. Those two will have lots of fun soon, too!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Preschool, here he comes!!
Today was Lucas' first day of preschool. We've all been anticipating this special day for months and it was everything we expected!
It was great to be home with the Lucas and Hannah {and Brent, too} this morning -- nothing was rushed and we enjoyed playing together and having breakfast. There were the obligatory "first day" pictures on the front door step. Imagine how these kiddos will change in the years to come! [sniff, sniff *tear*]
Super excited about his Cars 2 backpack!
A picture with Hannah that doesn't look like she is very comfortable...
However, the second try wasn't any better. I do promise, though, that she was not in a choke-hold. Rather, a typical "hold on to Hannah" hug.
Outside of school and the reaction, "another picture, mom?"
Lucas was more excited to see Charlie on his way to preschool than smile for the camera with mom. Guess I should probably get used to that...
I wasn't nervous about Lucas going to preschool or leaving him, I just felt a little unsure about it all being new to him - a new place, new teachers, lots of new faces. He wasn't nervous at all, if he was he would have been chewing on his fingers, a newly developed habit when he gets scared.
I walked him in and we did the drop-off rituals... sign-in, check his folder, and hang up his backpack. Then I reminded him where the bathroom was and where to wash his hands. Then he was off to build with the blocks. I stole a kiss and told him "I love you" and snuck out before I had the chance to get sad. I can't believe my baby is in preschool! He is half-way to kindergarten, which, by my calculations, means he is just about to graduate and move away from home. [sniff, sniff *tear*]
While waiting in the vehicle pick-up line outside of preschool, he spotted me from inside and gave me a huge smile and waved. It made my heart skip. We loaded up and the entire drive home (okay, it's only a few blocks) he talked non-stop about the fun things he did... he played with toy tools, the kitchen {he was excited to use the play vacuum}, they talked about God and Jesus, had a snack and played outside. He loved it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
