a bit of American History

Last night I had a dream about Brady Howell. It wasn’t until I woke that I remembered that he was no longer on this earth. He was a victim of 9/11. He worked at the Pentagon. He was, in my dream, exactly the kind of person I remember him being… good, kind, & fun.

This morning when I remembered that I dreamt about Brady, I told the kids about it. I told them about the events of 9/11… the terrorists, the airplanes, the towers,the people who died being so courageous. I don’t think Hannah ever remembered hearing about it. She was a little shocked and saddened. 9/11/2001 happened a year before she was born.

To my children, 9/11 will be a part of American History, but to me it is very REAL because I remember the news… the emotions, the questions – wondering if life in America would be safe… or if this was a new type of war on American soil. This is how I feel about Desert Storm. It was my birthday & watching the news about this new war was very solemn…. we didn’t know how far-reaching or how life-changing it could be.

I guess when you live through something, you have a new perspective… this realization could help me try to better understand my grandparents who lived through the depression… those feelings & experiences were real to them. Those who lived through Vietnam… World War II, Pearl Harbor bombing … not just history … real moments & feelings.