I started a post yesterday about the world's biggest headline...you would have to live under a rock to have not heard that the most sought after criminal/terrorist/evil mastermind/murderer in the world was found and killed.
I started it and deleted it, started it again, and deleted it again. I was thinking a lot about what it meant. Nothing. Everything. Something in between. I was thinking about violence and killing. I was thinking about how it felt irresponsible (to me) to celebrate. I was thinking about my girl, and how someday these things will need to be explained to her. I was thinking about all those people and all those families whose lives were changed forever on that day in September that we will never, ever forget. I was thinking about war, and all those brave men and women and their brave families who watch them pack and ship off to a land unknown to fight for....so many things....what exactly, I'm not sure anymore.
Mostly I was thinking about the days leading up to 9.11 and the days following. My brother got married 4 days later and leading up to that Tuesday was so much celebration. Just 3 days before I was sitting on a beach with a fellow bridesmaid talking about our older brothers. Mine getting married in a week, hers starting a fabulous new job in the WTC in NYC. We were so proud...two little sisters talking about their superhero older brothers.
I could say so much about all of that, the days leading up, the days following, how brave our friend was for still standing up with everyone in that wedding, how it changed so many things. Really though, there aren't any words that can package all that up. I have NO idea how our friend and her family felt in those days afterwards, how they have felt in the almost 10 years since then, or how yesterday made them feel. I do know that my heart is heavy for everyone who experienced such huge and personal losses that day, and all the days since then. Nothing will ever fill the holes they feel in their lives.
All I know for sure is that my friend and her huge, unthinkable loss have taught me to cherish every second I have with the people I love, that life changes in an instant, that you can move forward with love, support, and a brave heart, and that older brothers really are superheroes and nothing can ever change that.
I am thinking of ,and praying for, the thousands of people who have endured such huge losses. I hope they can find some kind of peace amongst the latest chaos and headlines.
xoxo
