Patriot Day RemembranceHello! I am really going to keep things short today. I'm not sure how you feel on September 11th, but for me it's such an emotional day. Living On Long Island during the September 11 attacks put me so close to where all the carnage happened and so many lives were lost from my town and the surrounding towns of Long Island. As a result, I feel that this day just deserves the reverence of remembering all those who suffered perished and did everything they could to help. On this day, 13 years ago, so many people were traveling - probably excited, happy, and enthusiastic about their destination. Regrettably, hundreds were killed on airplanes due to the savagery that day. It's hard for me to talk about travel in a positive light today when we remember how that very thing was used as a weapon on September 11, 2001. Since it is Thursday, we will of course have our regular Throwback Thursday feature. Today is Part 3 of the Elisa's China Adventure. -E  Travelin' Cousins sends its thoughts and prayers out to all the victims and survivors. God Bless America. | We. Will. Never. Forget.It's Patriots Day, and although I was in Southern California at the time of the tragic events I was glued to the TV and I stared and watched in silence. I was pregnant with Cosette at the time, and had already contacted all my loved ones to confirm their well being and that they were safe. I was in a state of shock. This couldn't be real. Everything else was in slow motion for me that day, I remember taking my sister Brigitte to her soccer practice and how I noticed that at the soccer field, this awful day really hadn't effected anyone else. While I sat there numbly in disbelief, everyone else was busy just being normal, like nothing extraordinary had happened on this day; no one else had any connection to the event. No one else had realized that 9/11 will never have the same meaning or significance ever again.  Later this afternoon we will be attending a 9/11 Tribute that Dominic and Cosette will be performing at with the International Peace Choir. I find that it is always better to put our thoughts and attention into something positive, rather than the murk of negativity. Honor the lives that were lost by remembering their wonderful presence, not focusing on that they are gone. Let's all try to focus on peace. Listen to the children and really try to hear them and feel their words as they sing out "Let there be peace on Earth, and Let it Begin with Me!"  On the travel note, we are bummed that Elisa will no longer be joining us at the Quebec Winter Festival in February. I went ahead rebooked our hotel with adjusted dates, because during the first 2 weeks in February we have: 1. Quebec Winter Festival 2. 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 3. IPC Winter Retreat at Crestline, CA Not to mention Valentine's Day...which we might have to celebrate on another weekend :-/ It'll be a busy couple of weeks for us, but I really can't see taking any of the events off of my calendar! I'll make it work! And lastly, but certainly not least, we can't forget that today is Throwback Thursday! Let's go take a trip back in time as we read the 3rd installment of Elisa's China Adventure! Until tomorrow, -T  |
