Thinking about our past

Last week, I watched a couple of very interesting documentaries on my wonderful Netflix instant queue. The first was Ken Burns' The War and the other was called 7 Days in September. The War is a miniseries documentary all about WWII told primarily from first person accounts of those that fought and those at home. It was fascinating for me since my Grandpa fought in WWII and was one of the many that fought on the beaches of France on D-Day. I learned a lot about the war and find it incredible that he survived all that he did.

What really got me thinking while watching this show was the efforts at home to support the war effort and the soldiers. Food was rationed. Gas for cars and other conveniences were set aside to benefit the troops. People rallied in an unbelievable way after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a horrific attack on our country. Of course, society was not perfect and I know that it wasn't so, it is impressive what they did to support their country.

I was not alive at that time so I only know what I have read and seen in documentary form about that time. The only thing I can compare it to is September 11 and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I know that I watched in horror as that second plane flew into the World Trade Center live on TV that morning and as I watched the towers fall. I was 8 months pregnant that morning, and I cried for the horror that I was seeing and what possible world I was bringing my daughter into. The documentary 7 Days in September chronicles those days after the attack in New York via residents/filmmakers with their own hand-held video coverage of the time. In the documentary, you saw the city come together and support each other in much the same way as they did in the WWII footage. Here in Dayton, my community got together at St. Anthony's and prayed. Everyone had flags flying. People flocked to donate blood and money/material for the victims and the rescue effort. I felt bonded to my fellow countrymen as we grieved for the attack on our home.

After a time though, the flags were put away and life resumed as normal. As our President and our military tried to seek those responsible and the inevitable war that went with it, criticism and recriminations were thrown about at those in our country who were trying to defend our country. Our country went from unified in tragedy to divided yet again in deep, hurtful ways. I cannot help but imagine what would happen if the US was propelled into another world war on the scope of WWII - if our country would be able to rally again in a really meaningful way. Honestly, I don't think so and it saddens me.

Today I begin my blogging adventure. I have been wanting to start for a while having been inspired by my dear friend Lucy, my husband and even my brother. Today is the day.

This morning, while reading a message board that I frequent, I read a post by someone whose son was killed in a car accident this weekend. My heart goes out to her as I cannot even imagine the depth of her grief. It reaffirmed to me how extremely blessed I am to have the time that I do with my children. I am often tired and my house is usually a mess but I wouldn't trade this time with them for anything. As cliche as it sometimes sounds, I hope everyone takes an opportunity today to give your kids just one extra hug and an extra "I love you" and never let a day pass where you don't do those things.