10 years ago today, The United States was attacked by terrorists. Planes were hijacked, used as weapons, and crashed into the World Trade Centers in NYC and The Pentagon. Some very brave men fought very hard to keep the last plane from targeting The White House and the plane crashed in a country field in Pennsylvania. In all, around 2900 souls were lost that day. All of the United States mourned.
The older generation likens the impact of 9 /11 to Pearl Harbor being attacked in 1941 and the day President Kennedy was assasinated. Everyone seems to remember exactly what they were doing when these events occurred.
I was at work when the first phone call came in from an employee who had just gotten home from working 3rd Shift. She called in to tell us. The rest is history. Calls after calls from very upset customer service agents wanting to know if the company was open. A room was designated for colleagues who had family in NYC.
After leaving from work, I was driving down Bryan Blvd in Greensboro, listening to the radio of the days events and it just so happened the Radio started playing the Star Spangled Banner as I was driving by the O'Henry Hotel, who simultaneously was lower the flag on top of the building to half mast. I stopped and cried for the first time. Cried for the innocent victims who died. Cried for the families and colleagues of those who were lost. Cried for our country, knowing we would never be the same.
After getting home, I was glued to the TV. Friends came over...we cried together...watched the futile rescue efforts.
The days following, we all were glued to the TV...I bought magazines, newspapers about the events. It was just surreal.
Today, 10 years later, as the news shows pictures of the remembrance services...clips of 9/11....it seems so long ago...but at the same time...seems like yesterday.
The Souls that were lost that day....May God keep them in the palm of his hand.
For the family of the survivors...May God Bless them and keep them. May his face shine upon them and give them peace !
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Life has unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes the twists are exciting and new. However, sometimes the turns are sudden, sharp and painful. Over the last week, I have had a somewhat unexpected turn; A turn I was hoping to not to make, but events outside my control escalated and I made the necessary and proper turn. The ironic thing: If I could have been able to step back and seen the warning signs, the outcome may have been different.
Over the last week, I have moved my youngest son (17 years old) to his mom and step dad's home. It was a difficult decision, but he made the choice by his actions. I just followed thru and said "Enough". It was a difficult and painful week. I love the boy, 100% of the time, but I don't like him very much right now. He's not the son I raised. His behaviour is of a child I don't know. He can be the sweetest and funniest kid, but over the last year, he has been angry, defensive, obstinate, disrespectful and rebellious. I no longer will tolerate the "know it all" attitude...the arrogance, the disrespect for me and the household property.
There's no meeting him half way. He must follow the rules and behave in the way he knows is right and expected of him. I am no perfect parent, but I have been a good dad to him. In fact, maybe a little to good. I have trusted when I shouldn't have trusted. I have been far to lenient and have allowed little supervision when he needed it the most. I should have forced him to stay with his mom on the weekends when I worked, but I didn't force the issue. Therefore, he was left unsupervised and he took advantage of my trust in him. Over time, his behaviour has worstened and the disregard of my household rules and the disrespect for me has escalated.
My ex wife came over on Tuesday and we packed his room. Eight bags of trash accumulated after finishing the clean up. Since, I have begun tearing down the Wallpaper border. I will have to hire someone to patch the 4 holes he punched in the walls over this year. I will have to replace the bedroom door he kicked and put a hole all the way thru. Once the holes are repaired, room painted, carpets cleaned, I will turn the room into a guest room.
My son has been out of the house since Tuesday evening. I am amazed how quiet it is at home. My daughter, who is 20, is still living at home, but she uses the house as headquarters to pop in and out...to shower...sleep...eat....lol. She is very busy and active with friends...all the time. I seem to have all this extra time on my hands. I didn't realize how incapacitated I had become, wondering of his whereabouts and if he was behaving. I am still not quite sure what to do with myself. I am hoping that I will stop procrastinating and start working on some household projects such as painting the kitchen, hallway, bathrooms and 2 bedrooms...I have enough work to keep me busy for a while.
By no means have I given up my parental respsonsibilities. My responsilibity is to keep him in a safe and secure environment. Hence, He has been moved to his mom's home so he can have more supervision. My ex wife doesn't work and she and her husband are home on weekends. I work weekends and work evenings, when supervision was needed.
I do hope and pray that our relationship will heal over time. However, he has to choose to do the right thing. He is a smart and intelligent kid. He knows right from wrong. He has to make a decision to choose "right". I love him more than he will probably ever know.
Over the last week, I have moved my youngest son (17 years old) to his mom and step dad's home. It was a difficult decision, but he made the choice by his actions. I just followed thru and said "Enough". It was a difficult and painful week. I love the boy, 100% of the time, but I don't like him very much right now. He's not the son I raised. His behaviour is of a child I don't know. He can be the sweetest and funniest kid, but over the last year, he has been angry, defensive, obstinate, disrespectful and rebellious. I no longer will tolerate the "know it all" attitude...the arrogance, the disrespect for me and the household property.
There's no meeting him half way. He must follow the rules and behave in the way he knows is right and expected of him. I am no perfect parent, but I have been a good dad to him. In fact, maybe a little to good. I have trusted when I shouldn't have trusted. I have been far to lenient and have allowed little supervision when he needed it the most. I should have forced him to stay with his mom on the weekends when I worked, but I didn't force the issue. Therefore, he was left unsupervised and he took advantage of my trust in him. Over time, his behaviour has worstened and the disregard of my household rules and the disrespect for me has escalated.
My ex wife came over on Tuesday and we packed his room. Eight bags of trash accumulated after finishing the clean up. Since, I have begun tearing down the Wallpaper border. I will have to hire someone to patch the 4 holes he punched in the walls over this year. I will have to replace the bedroom door he kicked and put a hole all the way thru. Once the holes are repaired, room painted, carpets cleaned, I will turn the room into a guest room.
My son has been out of the house since Tuesday evening. I am amazed how quiet it is at home. My daughter, who is 20, is still living at home, but she uses the house as headquarters to pop in and out...to shower...sleep...eat....lol. She is very busy and active with friends...all the time. I seem to have all this extra time on my hands. I didn't realize how incapacitated I had become, wondering of his whereabouts and if he was behaving. I am still not quite sure what to do with myself. I am hoping that I will stop procrastinating and start working on some household projects such as painting the kitchen, hallway, bathrooms and 2 bedrooms...I have enough work to keep me busy for a while.
By no means have I given up my parental respsonsibilities. My responsilibity is to keep him in a safe and secure environment. Hence, He has been moved to his mom's home so he can have more supervision. My ex wife doesn't work and she and her husband are home on weekends. I work weekends and work evenings, when supervision was needed.
I do hope and pray that our relationship will heal over time. However, he has to choose to do the right thing. He is a smart and intelligent kid. He knows right from wrong. He has to make a decision to choose "right". I love him more than he will probably ever know.
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