Posts Tagged ‘NYC’

September 11th

Posted September 11, 2011 Life 3 Comments

I want to write about September 11th.  But where does one start?

I have a story, as all of us do.  Really…when, since JFK’s death, can everyone who was alive on a certain date tell you exactly what they were doing on that day?  That is the depth and horror of what happened.  We all know what we were doing.  We all have a story to tell.  We all remember.

I was at work, I fled the city.  Not that Bethesda is all that close to DC, but I had to get home, to my husband.  I had to cradle myself in comfort and love, because so much unbelievable shock was enveloping me.  My family was lucky – even my Aunt got out of the Pentagon, unscathed – but we hurt for all those that did not have the same fate.  And in the time of extreme uncertainty, we needed to be together.

And this year,  the memory of it all has hit me particularly hard.  I can’t stop the tears from coming.  And the writing is hard.

Maybe it’s because, it being the 10th anniversary, there has been so much media about that day.  It inundates me with an aching, down to my stomach.  I’ve been watching “Rising” (a fantastic mini-series on the Science channel about the WTC rebuild, which I highly recommend) and it really strikes my heart.  The photographs and live video from that day are painful to see as well.  But it all gets me – from the flags that are at half mast, to the stupid freaking budweiser horse salute commercial.  All of it.  My heart breaks again and again.

I can’t help but put aside the pink today for the red, white, and blue.  To thank God for the incredibly brave first responders that helped people escape.  To pray for the men and women who died – and for the families they left behind.  To be amazed at all of the service men and women that protect us.  To hope that my children will never be faced with such horror, so close to home.

I don’t know if this post will reach anyone.  I don’t know if it even scratches the surface of how I feel, or even if it’s well written.  But I had to write something.  Because until I can get back to NYC to visit the 9/11 memorial and museum, I just had to get it out…

I haven’t forgotten.

 

Mmmmm, S’mores.

Posted August 3, 2010 Mom Media, Parenting No Comments

Something came in the mail the other day.
Something that made me, as a true Girl Scout leader, get all happy go lucky.
Something that made my kids oh-so-very-happy as well….

S’mores!!!

Okay, not the actual smores, but graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate, and a sweet bag with extending grill forks. Witness below, with your own eyes, the art of indoor flame cooking, with out burning the house down.

Notice the true Last-Minute Mommy form being used in these shots. The use of an indoor gas stove, instead of a firepit. Notice the need to extend the fork to their longest range – you know, just in case the raging fire loses control.  Notice the sink full of dishes. I could go on all day.

But, even still, they were yummy.  Cause, c’mon, they’re Smores!

But wait, there’s more….

Not only did Hershey send me this kit, they are also sponsoring our #RoadTripToBlogHer!  A group of local bloggers will all ascend on the Amtrak rails Thursday morning with one goal in mind: COFFEE!!! Okay, maybe two: Coffee and BLOGHER!!!

What’s that?  You are going to BlogHer and are sad to miss out on the chocolaty goodness? Well….

ALL BlogHer attendies are invited to attend the S’mores Snacktivity Suite at the Hilton!  Stop by Suite #4233 between 10 – 6, to talk S’mores, get some neat giveaways, and enter to win other prizes as well!  You can even bring your friends!  And if you are miles away from NYC, feel free to join in, using the #smores hastag – tell us your favorite S’mores memory!

Disclosure: As part of the S’mores Road Trip to BlogHer I received a round trip ticket on Amtrak to the convention and Hershey branded items. Any views expressed in this post are my own.