These are some of the reflections on tragedies I have experienced in my life that did not impact my family immediately and some that did.
The most vivid memory I have of all the tragedies mentioned was in November, 1963. I remember being in Spanish class when the news came about the death of President Kennedy. And tears were shed for days.
But you see this is only the beginning of a long list of moments that touched me.
When the Apollo fire occurred and Gus Grissom and two other astronauts died, I was sitting at my desk in the dorm at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing writing a letter to my Grandmother. My friends and I went to the Chapel, prayed and wept.
Martin Luther King is assassinated and Bobby Kennedy killed months apart my junior year in nursing school. Again we prayed and wept...not just for their families but also for us because we all saw hope for our future in them.
Next when your husband is at officer basic course at Ft. Belvoir, VA and was asked not to wear his uniform off post because of concerns for the safety of military personnel. He is a combat engineer and the only permanent duty battalion at Ft. Ord during the Viet Nam Conflict and he has to escort for ammunition to the mortar ranges at Ft. Ord for fear of attack by those who opposed the war.
I am still touched by all the memories of Columbine because I used to live as child and young adult not far from Littleton and I cried.
911 was a day of disbelief...a group of ladies and I were china painting and could not believe what we were witnessing...there were days of tears and prayers for all who suffered.
We were in CA visiting David and Kelly when the 1st tornado went through our "neighborhood" and Laura and Roy were the last to be allowed into the neighborhood to check on the house. I'll never forget flying over the area as you could see the damage from our plane before it landed.
We were celebrating Christmas in Carson City, NV with my brother Tom and Kathleen. when the tsunami hit..and again we wept.
The next tragedy touched so many of us and again we were not at home but in St. Louis. Laura and Roy were in England this time and heard about the next tornado to go through Newburgh on the BBC. We returned home to what appeared to be a battle zone. Our home was again miraculously spared, but the sheer numbers of those who died as a result of the tornado was staggering. The next day at work one of our patients came in to see the Dr. and also told about the death of her daughter and grandson. Tears flowed with abandon.
Finally, the anxiety of Katrina and its land-fall was a concern as Marianne was in New Orleans on one of her study visits for Lilly...It was so good to hear she was home again in INDY.
But through all these events I have learned many lessons...
1. God WILL provide.
2. You will have friends you never knew you had.
3. Love abounds!!
4. Hugs are always appreciated.
5. Tears are cleansing.
This list is not a complex philosophical lesson...I (we) just need to remember that "God is LOVE" and all else falls into place, even with all the sorrow, anger, and even Hate that can and does emanate from such events...LOVE will prevail...
Thank you to Kelly for suggesting I reflect on these things. We can only grow from the way these events have touched our lives...
