9:30 am rolled around this morning and my emotions shifted. I was sitting comfortably in the floral sofa with the big soft pillows that I love to nestle into to write. Kathryn was dodging and weaving the slice of cutlasses, when all of the sudden everything stopped.

Where was I only nine years ago at this very moment?

I asked myself that question almost subconsciously, that's what 0930 on each September 11 has caused me to do for the past nine years.

Ahhh yes, sitting on the edge of my bed watching in horror as the second aircraft plunged into the still intact tower.

My stomach lurched in response as it does each time I replay the visual of that horrific moment.
Today as I drove home from Target, I noticed a red jeep decked out in five US flags, his reverence for this day unmistakeable. As I turned into my neighborhood, the guy across the street had decorated his yard in US flags of various sizes, showering his lawn in red-white-and-blue. It is important to me to show this same kind of rememberance on this day and so I pulled out the flag and stuck in in the planter, straightened the military star flag (there are two on mine) hanging in my window and sat down to write this message.

Remember, please remember those whose lives were lost on this fateful day nine years ago. Remember the valiant sacrifices made by the police, firefighters, civilians, neighbors and strangers...US citizens, my country, my family.
Thank you to those who serve our grand country now, those home and abroad. Thank you for sacrificing your time, comfort and memories with your own loved ones as you serve.

Today will be another Saturday, somber with significance. But as I go back outside to trim the summer's overgrown bushes, my grandson riding his big wheel oblivious to the significance of this day except he is aware of one thing...his daddy isn't here. He's serving in some foreign land because of what happened nine years ago.

Home of the Brave Because of the Free

I cry everytime I hear the Star Spangled Banner played. It doesn't matter if the melody sounds over the loudspeaker before the local baseball game or whether it's played solemnly before a ceremony. The results are always the same.

Only seven days and I will be celebrating our nation's birthday traditionally with summer outdoor swimming, a rodeo and BBQ topped off with the traditional fireworks (thanks to Bruce Willis once again!). My family will be joining me as we caravan to Sun Valley, Idaho ready to recreate and celebrate together. I can hardly wait!

I wonder if those living on this continent 234 years ago dreamt of future days with celebration and BBQ's. Probably not. Their dreams were of freedom, family and founding a new country. Each step taken toward that precious goal of independence placed our forefathers at risk of meeting the hangman's noose. Yet still they moved forward until that day when the United States of America came into being.

Today as Americans, we face very real threats, domestic and abroad, to our same beloved United States. As we celebrate that great day of independence won more than two centuries ago, let us remember those brave men and women of our military forces who face no less a risk as those men and women living during the early 1770's. Let us honor them and those who served before by honoring our country, covering our heart as the Star Spangled Banner is played or even better, standing in respect as the flag is displayed. Let us raise our voices and join in proudly declaring our Pledge of Allegiance and joining in song as we proclaim, "...the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave".

Thank you to our soldiers for their loyal service and sacrifice to the preservation of that freedom won more than two hundred years ago!