September 11, 2010

As I strolled through the airport, images of a high-jacked plane crashing into the twin towers was aired on t.v. monitors around the terminal. It felt funny to be flying on the 9th anniversary of that calamitous day of September 11th. I've mentioned before, I was in Arizona to attend my 30th High School Reunion. I also spent time visiting my parents, siblings and their families. We went out on my sister's boat, for the last time, as she is moving to California. My mom received some news from her doctor that she needs additional testing that we hope results in nothing serious. Emotionally I was torn in leaving. I missed my family back at home, but I would also miss my family in Arizona.

I wasn't the only one flying that day. My mother-in-law had boarded a plane earlier for a get together with her daughters. She was very excited. Two of her daughters were flying in from other parts of the country so they could all be in one place together.

Kate & Charley boarded a plane in Portland, after saying good-bye to their 7 children. Flying to Denver, with another stopover in Frankfurt, and arriving in Kiev, they would reach their final destination: a Ukraine orphanage where they hoped the adoption of two 2 special little girls with Downs Syndrome would go smoothly.

Passengers, all traveling for different reasons, not unlike those who'd boarded the fateful aircrafts 9 years earlier, but never reached their destinations. It was a poignant moment as I reflected on life around me.

I wished I'd taken more photographs, said I love you more. Would my friends and family think I was weird if I sent out a mass text message, reminding them how much I love them?

When our plane finally landed in Denver, a flight attendant came on the loud speaker and announced she'd like us all to take a moment of silence on this September 11th. And then this happened:




When the song ended, everyone clapped and cheered. Can I just say, I love Southwest Airlines?