Tag Archives: New York City

My Heart Aches

English: Crying boy

I was going to write a post about something else today…something that doesn’t really seem as important right now.

I was working with one of my students when I got the news about the school shooting in Connecticut. The news numbed me. I had flashbacks of my days in the classroom when we prepared (as much as one can) for incidents such as this. Lock down drills were unnerving and those drills were just for “practice”. I cannot fathom the fear of all those involved.

My heart aches for these families that lost young children. Tears spring to this mom’s eyes. My heart aches for the families of the teaching staff at that school–those teachers that aren’t coming home today. My heart aches for all those involved and the terrible memories that will be felt now, because of today’s events, every year right before Christmas break.

This world is broken. It can sometimes be a place where bad things, awful things, scary things, terribly sad things, happen to otherwise good people. It is a place where disturbed young men can take the lives of young children. These children,  today, saw the face of evil.

My heart hurts. A tragedy…and how can one ever be prepared for something such as this?
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

I have no more words.

 

 

 

 

 

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Etched In The Hearts Of Millions

This day, etched in the hearts of millions, is remembered…..

September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City: V...

That day eleven years ago looked much like today.

A Tuesday, clear blue skies, and a complacency that came from thinking that we, as a country, were untouchable.

My heart remembers….

May we stay vigilant. Now and forever more.

******************************************************

From my archives…….

A Different World

11 Sep

The day was normal. Just like any other. Elementary school children chattering with each other. My teaching assistant and I were working with our reading groups on that Tuesday morning. A sunny day, nothing out of the ordinary…and then a fellow teacher popped into my classroom to tell me to go and watch the TV in the school conference room. I excused myself, leaving my kiddos with my assistant for a minute.

I stared at the television, not comprehending what I was looking at. The plane, the World Trade Center, the fire and smoke. People everywhere. The second plane hitting the building. News anchors eerily silent as, even they, had no words for what they were seeing. Chills ran across me as I stared in disbelief.

I numbly walked back to my classroom. Knowing that life was different now.

I told my assistant to go to the conference room.

I looked at the faces of all my young students and realized that life as we knew it would never be the same. These children would grow up in a different world than I had.

And it made me so sad.

September 11, 2001

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A Different World

September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City: V...

Image via Wikipedia

The day was normal. Just like any other. Elementary school children chattering with each other. My teaching assistant and I were working with our reading groups on that Tuesday morning. A sunny day, nothing out of the ordinary…and then a fellow teacher popped into my classroom to tell me to go and watch the TV in the school conference room. I excused myself, leaving my kiddos with my assistant for a minute.

I stared at the television, not comprehending what I was looking at. The plane, the World Trade Center, the fire and smoke. People everywhere. The second plane hitting the building. News anchors eerily silent as, even they, had no words for what they were seeing. Chills ran across me as I stared in disbelief.

I numbly walked back to my classroom. Knowing that life was different now.

I told my assistant to go to the conference room.

I looked at the faces of all my young students and realized that life as we knew it would never be the same. These children would grow up in a different world than I had.

And it made me so sad.

September 11, 2001

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Prepare For The Worst, Hope For The Best

Hurricane Irene

Image by janthepea via Flickr

For the past several days all I’ve heard about is hurricane Irene. I have the track of the storm memorized. I’m watching for who is being forced to evacuate. Now, homeland security is even involved. Of course, I am a weather geek extraordinaire so all this talk doesn’t bother me. I’m sure all I will hear between now and Monday is the latest news on the fast approaching hurricane Irene. I will get to see reporters standing in 100+ mph winds, hanging on to telephone poles so as not to be blown down the street or blown out to sea. I will get glimpses of 20 foot waves crashing onto the shore and the reporters, in their bright yellow rain slickers, running for their lives.This sort of stuff is the life blood of a bonafide weather watcher. I’m telling you what, between the earthquake earlier this week and now the hurricane. Be still my heart!

What is the deal with people surfing in the choppy waters? Hello! Riptides, people! North Carolina life guards are pulling these nuts out of the water.  Some people really make me wonder….wonder if they are all together there, you know, mentally.

The news anchors make it sound like NYC is either going to be under water or caught in hurricane force winds so strong that they will bust out every window in the city. Not that the news media ever exaggerates anything. Just sayin’.

I am in Ohio, so I don’t have to prepare for the upcoming “end of days” hurricane. I do hope all my  east coast family and friends are hunkered down with supplies this weekend. Be safe…and for cryin’ out loud, don’t go stand outside when the storm hits, with a microphone in your hand.

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Row The Boat, Ashore….

Lakeville funnel cloud

Image by soozums via Flickr

It’s raining. A lot. Again.

This Spring has been wet and volatile.

At least there have been no funnel clouds in sight. Yet.

Even though I love to watch the tornado documentaries, I don’t want to be IN one.

Just sayin’.

I have to drive two of my kiddos to a town that is an hour away.

For some academic testing.

That happens each year, at this time.

The test proves how brilliant they are.

Really. I’m not lying.

They are.

Of course, they have wonderful teachers.

I love homeschooling:)

Well, I had better go.

Stuff to do before we leave

I hope this trip doesn’t call for an ark….or red ruby slippers and a trip to Kansas.

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Snow. Again?!

Snowflakes!

Image by nutmeg66 via Flickr

I just returned from a two day trip. As I was driving back into the state, I saw that it was snowing. What?! It’s a wonder we don’t all keel over from this crazy weather. We’ll all catch our death. Just a light jacket one day and then it’s snowing. Should we all get our parkas back out? My mom bought me some super cool zebra print boots for the Spring mud season. I suppose they would work in the snow too. Ugh.

As I sit here at the kitchen table I see the big, fat flakes falling outside. A lot of them. This is crazy. April Fools Day isn’t until Friday, ’cause this is a joke, right?

(P.S.) To those of my loyal readers that have been following the mouse saga….I hear them again.They are back. I guess I need to serve up the “green pellet” buffet again. If you are a mouse lover, don’t talk to me. Joe,the cat, caught one too. Mice reproduce way too fast. Just sayin’. And now with all this new snow they will be cold outside, and want to come in to warm up. Listen up little micey, this is NOT the Motel 6!!!!  I love all of God‘s creatures with the exception of small little field mice that want to become my room mates.

I will blog tomorrow after I unpack, and after giving a pep talk to the cats about needing to “patrol the perimeter” for incoming rodents.

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Cold Beauty

Snow Globe

Image by David Hepworth via Flickr

Yes. This winter seems unending. It has been cold and chaotic since the first snow fell on December 1.

And yet…as I stand at my kitchen window, I am amazed at the beauty of it all.

I quietly sigh. I stare upward.

White gray.

Snow blowing every which way. A blur of flakes.

Each one different. Unusual.

The scene before me resembles a snow globe that has been shook hard.

A flake frenzy.

Cold beauty.

Dogs with snowy fur.

Schools closed.

Gray sky filled with flakes.

The roar of wind.

I feel the need to snap a picture. To remember.

To pull out on the hot, sticky days of late July.

A cool memory to ease the pain of the heat.

Lord, I am thankful for this day you have given me.

And for the eyes wide open…to see your gift to me.

 

 

 

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Blood Curdling Screaming Coming From A Cart

A shopping cart filled with bagged groceries l...

Image via Wikipedia

I went to Walmart this morning. I had some grocery shopping to do. I don’t really dig the grocery shopping part, but I love the people watching. That store tends to be a veritable petri dish of characters. Today there was a little girl who kept me entertained. She was a screamer. You know the kind I’m talking about. It started out as a whine. (bless her heart, she was probably needing a nap) Then a “Moooommmmmy!!!”. Mommy ignored her while she attempted to figure out the best buy on breakfast cereal. Girl got louder. Mom, perused the sugar crunchies, and bran cardboard. Girl let it rip. “AAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa”. I have to say she had a healthy set of lungs on her. I’d say everybody in the entire super WalMart could hear her. She was that good. Such a loud scream wrapped up in such an angelic little face.

As I continued to shop, I periodically heard the “AAAAAaaaaaaa” from some other aisle. I smiled. I don’t have young children, so I can.

I finally was finished with the buying of food staples. My family will be happy that they are not going to starve. I maneuvered my shopping cart into an available check out line— behind two other people. I always pick the slow line. The cashier was personable, but slow. This always happens to me. I think it must be genetic. Can people have DNA that always, no matter what, attracts them to the slowest line in a store? Just sayin’ that I am curious about that. It seems plausible.

Two lines over was harried mom with screaming tot. Girl was stuck in cart while mom unloaded groceries onto the conveyor belt. Girl yelled. Mom gave her “the look”. Girl got quiet. She was probably thinking over her options. I had a feeling that little girl was going to get it when she got out to the mini van. Aaahhhhh…….the joys of parenting. Did I mention that I am glad to be past that stage? (Big smirk….I mean smile.)

 

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1-1-11

New York Times Square New year celebrations in...

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Last night, I watched the people in Times Square, New York. That is as close as I ever want to be to NYC on New Years Eve. Seriously. When I was much younger, I enjoyed going out on New Year’s Eve and celebrating. Those days are gone. I am now old. I’ve embraced this fact.

1. First of all, I tend towards claustrophobia. I would start freaking out if I had to stand in that crowd.

2. Number two, and most importantly…where do people go to the bathroom in Times Square? This is a HUGE consideration for me, as God gave me a temperamental bladder.

3. I feel for the poor people that have to clean up all the confetti/ticker tape. Can you imagine the mess from all that?

4. At midnight everyone in Times Square was kissing. I wonder if they were kissing people they knew? Or just whoever was around? Just sayin’. People get caught up in the excitement and might go on a crazy kissing jag. That could be embarrassing. Or not:)

5. Here, back at the ranch, my husband was already in bed…sound asleep. He wished me a happy new year before hitting the sack.  The kids, my father-in-law, and I brought in the new year in the comfort of the living room. After wishing everyone a Happy New Year, I went to bed.

6. I have not made any formal resolutions. I’m very goal oriented anyway, so I will just keep plugging along…and that way I won’t break any resolutions. Makes sense, right? Resolutions…yada, yada, yada,

7. I like watching the news on New Year’s Day. All the trends from last year…the big news stories… As morbid as it is, I’m always intrigued by who died the previous year.

8. I don’t watch the Rose Bowl parade or any football games. Don’t hate me.

That’s all I’ve got right now.

The family is going to a New Years get together today. Food, fellowship, and fun. A great way to start 2011.

 

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Everyone Has A Story…

Charles Kuralt, Host from 1979–1994

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My husband gave me the DVD set of the late Charles Kuralt, On The Road series. The series used to air on CBS Sunday. Mr. Kuralt and crew were in an RV, traversing the highways and bi-ways of America. He met people in the big cities and small towns of this country. His key phrase had him wondering what was “up around the bend”. Even though I was a child for most of his years on TV, and don’t really remember watching the series, I am intrigued by his travels, now, as an adult.

One day, I hope to “hit the road” for an extended period of time. Meet people. Write their stories. I long to see America in a way that isn’t shown on the nightly news. There is something to be said for taking time to go down the road less traveled, to sit and listen to stories that  might otherwise never be heard.

I think that is why I love blogging so much…and reading other people’s blogs. I get to meet people in a sense…get to know them. Just like a book can take me to a place I’ve never been…my blog friends show me their lives in parts of the country that I’ve never had opportunity to visit. Yet.

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