The different accounts from different perspectives moved me, made me want to do something more. I decided to drive to Tempe Town Lake and visit Healing Field.
Most flags had a name attached and their story, one of the flags I read was for a woman named Suzanne Geraty she was 30, the age I am now. Sadly because the sun was so bright I could not see that the picture was cut off when I took it.
Thankfully I was able to get the info from the New York Times...
Suzanne Geraty: The Kiss Monster
Published: September 21, 2001
Her four nephews christened Suzanne Geraty the Kiss Monster for obvious reasons: when she wasn't chasing them around the park, she was smooching them. Or tickling them. ''She was the best aunt,'' said her sister, Erin Durkin. But Suzanne, 30, had numerous outlets for her playful nature. She always scooped up any extra concert tickets at the Cantor Fitzgerald office, where she worked in system support, and regretted missing Madonna at the Garden. She couldn't hold a tune, but she danced with abandon. She loved dining out and drinking red wine, and she was a devoted shopper for accessories: she filled her closet with shoes, hats, pocketbooks. Her collection of potions and lotions was encyclopedic.
Oh, I love this, Connie. I wish I had gone there! Maybe I will just try to get over there this week. I heard it's pretty amazing to see all those flags representing the lives lost. I'm so glad you went and that, although you didn't speak to anyone, you still felt comraderie with them. I actually wrote in my journal last night (it's something I've been writing in since I was pregnant that I'm going to give to Gavin when he's an adult) about 9/11. I explained my personal experience and the nation's experience as a whole. I want the feeling of 9/12/11 back. Not the mourning and loss, of course, but the feeling of unity. After the attacks, it was so easy to be kind to strangers - even when the annoyed me. I didn't care; I felt like they were my family because we had been through this awful thing together. We've lost that feeling and it saddens me.
ReplyDeleteOkay. So, it was only going 9/9 - 9/11. :( I missed it.
ReplyDeleteMelissa I feel the same way! I wish our unity could last, that we could feel like brothers and sisters again instead of enemies.
ReplyDeleteI wish I would have asked you if you wanted to go. We always have next year.
Yeah, next year! :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish blogger had a 'like button' because I don't have anything profound to put in the comments but I wanted you to know that I was here and smiling.
ReplyDeleteI do have like buttons look just above the comments. But thank you it is nice to know you are here :).
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, Connie. Made me want to visit the memorial too.
ReplyDelete