Remembering...

Today is of course a day of historical significance. There are many things that are being written about and lots of emotions felt by all, that have been, and are being shared. At the church service this morning some of us were talking about the events that have marked generations. For my parents it was Pearl Harbor, for me it was JFK,Bobby Kennedy and MLK. Then there was Challenger, Oklahoma City and  9/11. All events involving violence of some sort. How sad isn't it that these are the things that bring us together? Do we ever celebrate the wonderful events that bring us together? But then again, can you really think of any "mass" happy events that occur? Perhaps it is the events that involve sadness that cause us to bond because at times like that we put ourselves in other people's shoes and think,"Man what if that were me? What if that were my partner, my child, my family that had been killed?" We do the same thing with every disaster. The tornado might have been here. The fires could easily start near here. The happy things occur in small places and are felt by smaller groups because it is the small people who are doing the cleaning up and helping each other. It is in small towns and communities where the true caring comes out. There is no major press coverage.
For me it was a day with many emotions. A church service filled with remembrances but also a celebration of youth and ministry and a wish for peace everywhere. There was much music and singing,followed by a picnic and a sense of community. Then it was off to my sister's for a wedding shower. Time with family and friends. Loud sisters and confusing conversation....what else is new?! After everyone had left, I and Ms K had some time with my sister Janet. Today would have been her son Karl's 30th birthday. My other sisters had remembered and brought roses for the day. We drove to the cemetery and wished him a Happy Birthday and left our roses. We shared some thoughts and some memories.
It's a crazy world isn't it? Happy, sad, happy, sad and so it goes on and on. Would that we could all live together and get along. The reality is we know that it is never going to happen. We can and should keep hoping that it would be so. To give up is not good, but it is easy. Now that I'm writing this and thinking about it more, isn't it interesting that we ALL could be on the same page for one day. We ALL remembered. We ALL listened. We ALL loved our country. We ALL wanted peace and happiness.
And tomorrow will start a new week and things will go back to the way they were. We won't forget, but that sense of togetherness will be gone. So does that make me happy or sad? I guess I'd have to say a little of both. Sad that the sense of "camaraderie" is gone but happy in a way because we can find it within ourselves to go on. Life isn't easy and it does feel rather schizophrenic at times. Happy, sad,happy sad...or a little of both. You decide.... WL