9/11

It happened 9 years ago. Like today there was not a cloud in the sky. Life was good. Expecting our first child and buying a new house. My husband drove into the city and I went to the law office in Princeton. We were having coffee and settling down for the day when someone screamed. We ran to the conference room where the TV was on. Normally a busy office the phones stopped ringing. We just stayed around the TV and watched. I could not reach my husband but since he was in law enforcement, I knew he would be in harm’s way.


He called to let me know he was on the road and saw the second plane hit the towers. The turnpike was at a stop but he was going in. He later told me that the tunnels to NYC were closed but he put on his lights and sirens and was waved through. It was eerie being the only car in the tunnel, he said.

I did not hear from him until late that night. I was a New Yorker living in New Jersey. Did not have any good friends near and my close friends were unreachable in NYC. I had no way to get in and only wanted to go in and help - man phones at the Police station, help at a hospital but I could not. My parents were in NYC, they owned a house near the Police Department and like many opened their doors to the First responders that could not go home. A place to crash, a bath, and some food.

We could not believe that this was planned. It had to be a horrific accident. But after the second plane hit we knew we were under attack. I was afraid for us, I was afraid for my unborn child. I was afraid for those who would not see their loved ones come through the door. I saw a country shaken but pull together. The sleeping dog was up and growling. Lady Liberty was crying with her fist in the air. I saw people going to give blood that would not have done it at any other time. I saw strangers hugging and candles lit at night. I saw a unity that was not there before. It did not matter what you were a maid or CEO, who cared about the color of your skin, what language you spoke, what you looked liked we were all the same—Americans. We were united.

After all planes were grounded, I was proud when I saw a Military plane overhead. People around me would stop and look up and wave. We knew they could not see us but we were proud of them.

I learned that two childhood friends were each in one tower. One called the other and true to form said he would race him down to safety. That was the only reason the second left his office. The second waited for his friend outside and only saw the tower fall. Our friend was still inside.

We saw real heroes die and folks saved by a late train. We heard of lost dogs that got lost to comfort lost children. We saw unlikely friendships made. And the search for victims all in vain. We saw cars at the station never to have their owners come back. We saw searches for loved ones never to be seen again. We saw fathers come home covered in ash.

Yet, nine years later, a little voice asks why do you cry today Mommy. What is today? She says her prayers for the fallen. She cannot understand how we all came together since she has never seen that. I cannot explain how the world was so different. How we played outside alone; how we lost the innocence. She never knew the innocent time.

All gave some and some gave it all. Let us Never Forget. Teach your children what this day means.
R.I.P all those who died that fatefull day.  "Let's Roll" to a better world where innocence is not far gone and say "GOD BLESS THE USA".

Ketchup Recipe

My daughter LOVES ketchup.   I do not like all the stuff they put in to the store stuff. The organic one is expensive and is hard to get in my area. So what is a mother to do? Can’t find it – then make it. Here is a recipe I found that works.

My little girl likes it plain but you can add spice to it and change it up a notch. The water is what makes it thin or thick so adjust that to your tast.

Ketchup

3 6 oz cans tomato paste organic is the best

1/4 c honey local if you have it since it helps with allergies

1/4 c brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cloves

pinch of cayenne

pinch all spice

pinch garlic powder

3/4 c cider vinegar organic if you can

Water as needed to reach the right consistency.

Mix together and simmer while stirring, for five minutes. Remove from heat. Cool. Adjust seasonings. Flavor will improve on standing .

For those that have to have it now. You can skip the simmering but this helps blend the flavors. Try adding different spices like chipotle to the mix.

Bon appetite.

Toronto

We took a trip to Toronto, Canada as a family. Wow what a beautiful city. It was clean and the people were very friendly. Two things caught my eye. First on the main strip, the restaurants have big windows facing the street. In two of the restaurants, right by the big windows, I saw not one but two MOMs breastfeeding. It was a beautiful sight. Yes they were not exposed but they were not shoved in the back or told to hide. It was accepted as normal. Yet here in the USA we still see lawsuits about MOMs not being allowed to breast feed or asked to move out of sight.

I then noticed a lot of wheelchairs. The city accommodates them and they are seen everywhere. It was with great ease that they moved around and the transportation system easily accommodated them. I always remember a trip to NYC where I saw a wheelchair bound person struggling with the buses. Here everyone seemed to be more mobile. It was nice to see.

And finally the last thing that impressed me was the way recycling was a part of everyday life. From the time we crossed the border there were blue bins for paper and cans and glass. Even the hotel rooms had these bins. Some places even had organic matter receptacles headed for a compost heap. I wish we did that more. They made it easy to recycle so more people did it.

Well those are my thoughts for today. How can we make the world better? One step at a time. Do one nice thing for another today.