I am so jealous of John and Mona and Allie!

As I sit here watching the coverage on the news about the terrorist attacks in our country on 9-11-01, the Hackmann's are actually in NYC today. I hope they got to see the parachutists fall from the sky, carrying the American flag as they land in Battery Park. The coverage is going between all the sites where the planes hit, not only focusing on New York. I watched the dedication of the memorial at the Pentagon where the military guys ceremonially removed the blue coverings from the benches which are symbolically arranged according to the ages of those lost. The smallest child was three years old (Mannie's age) with the oldest man being 71.

I'm also wondering if Ellen and Billy Powell are still in NYC, since Skynyrd appeared on Fashion Rocks Tuesday night. I saw Billy but not very much, his disadvantage is being behind the piano all the time. At least we could hear him playing!

The anchorman just commented that even though it's been 7 years, it still seems very fresh and raw in the survivors' minds. Let me tell you, this is absolutely true when you lose a loved one. Time really means nothing as it passes, at least this is so in my case. The families of those who died in the Towers can sign the girders which will go into the construction of the new structures. I love that idea, they will always know their name and the name of the lost family member or friend is in that building.

I just received a call from the campaign leader for Diane Hutchings who is inviting me to a 'thank you' luncheon for support during her run for office. It had to be postponed when earlier planned because of TS Faye, and I'd had to decline anyway because of having company that week. Diane was saying "thanks" before even knowing the outcome of the election, the dear that she is! Now it's scheduled for when I'm home and will be able to attend, plus I can bring a guest. I might see if Justin wishes to come or Jennifer. Great! A luncheon!!!

We had a bit of a restless night here at Arno's as he needed to take a number of late night strolls to the bathroom. It's not that's he is noisy at all, but I found myself aware of his making the way to the bathroom, which is on the far end of the house. Even though there are two baths on this level, he has customarily used the half bath as his own, which has the plastic raised seat attached for ease of getting off and on. Complete with handle bars! His bout with diarrhea continues almost daily so he uses his walker because of feeling a bit weak. Certainly it must be draining on his system, in so many ways. I am encouraging his water drinking in order to maintain hydration and he's fairly compliant about doing that.

Because of feeling somewhat weakened, he opted to forgo his shower this a.m. which I felt was also wise. The last thing we needed was for him to take a tumble in the shower or bathroom. I made his breakfast for him and he ate heartily, concerned that I wasn't also eating with him. I explained being on a totally different schedule----all those years visiting us in FL and they never really seemed to catch on that we didn't follow the same schedule or routine they did.

Many of the nearly 20 years we've been in FL, my in-laws would come down to visit. They had a rough time figuring out we don't really have time to sit and enjoy breakfast, not with getting to work, school, and/or day care. This is still true today as he expected me to have breakfast at 7:30 in the morning! These were farm folks, getting up to do their chores at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m., and then coming in to have breakfast. We do our chores well after breakfast instead of before, or just no breakfast at all. It doesn't pay to argue or discuss this any more, being a moot point.

It makes me sad to watch the replays of the terror attacks and the fall of the building, but not so much to make me stop. I bought a bunch of DVDs about the WTC and the whole scene, and still want to get the picture book which captured the events of the day, and after.

What gets to my soul is listening to the guys, mostly guys, mourn the loss of their wife, or not knowing what happened to their spouse. This really affects me, because I didn't have that. Having your friends love and care for you is not quite the same as having a husband or wife searching, tearing things apart, looking for you, praying the loved one is found alive. It's the same feeling I'd have if I had to risk life and limb to get to Justin, doing whatever I had to do to rescue him or help in some way. At least he's got that!