Everything Changed- LONG Narrative (Resurrection of a historic thread.)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

Cartooniverse, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this. I knew someone on each of the planes that hit the Twin Towers - one of the LA Kings scouts from my prior work as a sports arena security guard, and a friend of a friend. Nearly everyone I know has some first or secondhand connection to a victim. There were rumors that the hijackers may have gotten to Portland en route to Boston via the Nova Scotia ferries; I came home from vacation on the 8th on one of those ferries and now wonder about the two men who were next to me just prior to docking. I received a phone call from one of my company’s Canadian customers the other day, not only to express his sympathy, but also his anger that terrorists regularly take advantage of the easy border crossing to get into the US. I’m not normally one to be suspicious or afraid but after this, I’m not traveling for a while.

I know there’s no chance either of the people I knew could have survived the initial plane crashes, but this is the best I’ve felt in the last week, hearing the firsthand story of someone who would have helped them if they could.

~ Randi

42

Thanks for the gentle reminder. I must confess I am one who too quickly lumped all “media” types into one catagory. I am new to these parts so have not seen many of your posts, but I am very impressed. Impressed with you Cartooniverse and also with SDMB in general.

43

Thanks for the ground zero reporting. The courage of all the EMTs and other emergency service personnel is one of the few bright spots of this tragedy.

44

Here’s a photo of the exterior of the Chelsea Piers from Time magazine.

45

Wow. I’m speachless. Thank you.

46

Moderator’s Notes: Threadspotting is back! I had this thread hidden while I removed all references to Cartooniverse’s employer and all other business entities that could possibly be used to identify the 'Toonster.

Sorry for the confusion folks.

47

So when will see the first episode of “Removed by Moderator”? Sounds like a UPN game show. :wink:

48

{{{{{{{{{{{{Uncle Beer}}}}}}}}}}}}}}. YES, cyberhugs are trite, but short of sitting you down and BUYING you a beer, that’s the best I can do.

–sniff-- Personally, I think it adds a certain elan to the entire document. :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Seriously, thanks. I feel much better. And, my heartfelt thanks again to the Dopers who have felt so moved as to write something in here.

Here I sit. At my computer. Safe at home, having heard on the way home that the new estimate for total removal of debris is SIX MONTHS…my god above. :frowning:

Cartooniverse

49

The was simply an outstanding.

I am sitting here at the library alternating between sniffling at such vivid imagary and the stunning clarity of your writing and understanding the enormity of the situation and being able to take it all in.

A tremendous sense of guilt washes over me because all *I * did during the entire aftermath was sit in front of my TV and weep at the images. You were able to do something and on behalf of everyone who was held hostage infront of a TV somewhere, frustrated by distance, *thank you * for using your skills and talents to help other out.

Catooniverse, you are incredible.

I would have given anything to see the two Army Rangers take and toss that photographers camera away.

Don’t forget to pack a couple of disposable camera’s next time in your jump bag!

50

Shirley, I love ya. :slight_smile: You have touched upon something here that’s been disturbing me as I’ve read through the myriad threads here on our Boards. OUR Boards…

How guilty should I feel that I came home after ONLY two days, while thousands of others toil? How guilty should you feel that your reaction was private and devastating? How guilty should someone feel ( to touch upon a wrathful thread in another forum ) that they don’t usually show the American flag, or volunteer, or give blood?

NOT guilty at all !!! We live in a culture that works both ways. Our mindset and way of life is a product of our culture and our culture is the product of our mindset and way of life. We all react differently, and no one way of responding is right or wrong ( barring a violent personal response, IMHO ).

It is the great gift of our country that we even have the freedoms to express ourselves in such myriad ways. Shirley, you feel guilt and perhaps that is YOUR way of dealing, but I’d beg you to let go of a lot of that guilt. It’s misplaced.

We are a competitive people, and that is SO ingrained that some Dopers here - myself included- have debated with fiercely personal words just HOW much of a response is a good one, or the right one.

I feel guilty that I even entered into those debates, I really do. It felt nice to be all self-righteous and lash out but the truth is that nobody gets to sit in judgement of another person’s mourning.

No guilt. You want to do something outward and positive? I heartily encourage you- there is inded a nationwide blood shortage. If one is moved to do something civic-minded, give a pint. ( I know,I read the thread on blood donations…my wife keeps over in a dead faint when she gets stuck with a needle. Me, I watch it flow. To each their own).

My somewhat rambling point here is that I feel the guilt is misplaced. Turn that energy around. Do something, no matter how small YOU may think it is.

Our country is built not on huge displays by famous people, but by anonymous quiet gestures by ordinary people responding in their personal way, to an extraordinary event.

One gesture is a gift. Ten are a movement. 275 million are a revolution. Let ours be a brilliant and passive one, of gestures and thoughts and caring.
**

Great. Now ya tell me :rolleyes:

51

Well stated Toonie, that’s the bottom line isn’t it? The first thread I read here was when you asked How We Mourn? I registered that night because of the thread. I never posted to it, it’s to hard to approach, mourning is so present in my life. But the things the other posters added ring true to what I learned in bereavement counseling.

Mourning is intensely personal. The path to acceptance and recovery isn’t the same for everyone and that’s ok! The stages of grief are widely known, but in my experience it’s not a predictable and steady progress. On this board there are threads of Dopers who are at several of the beginning and middle stages, moving from shock to expressing emotion and then sorrow and feelings of depression,and experiencing real physical symptoms of distress, becoming paniky and then feelings of guilt, anger and resentment, resisting returning to life, gradually finding hope and then the struggle to affirm reality. It’s (in my experience) more like waves, sometimes tugging and pulling at you and sometimes knocking you over to your knees and pulling you under, sometimes stinging you in the face with sharp bitter sweet thoughts and other times gently lapping at you with fond memories gently rippling ever outward.

Toon’s you’re right. As each of us at different times, when we are ready, make the first painful outings and attempt to return to work and live life again, passing birthday’s and anniversary dates, we should all make allowances for and be patient with the differences in mourning styles due to culture, gender, life experiences and even age, instead of nitpicking, sniping and ridiculing each other for the differences in the way we cope, or don’t cope for that matter. If it mean increased patriotism, compassion, and volunteerism, that’s not a bad thing.

My best wishes to you, whatever form your mourning takes, it is the most healing possible for you my dear friend.

A

52

Cartooniverse, I salute you. I have relatives who are firemen, EMT’s and so forth, and they have seen some nasty stuff. But this…
I am just a grunt on my company 1st aid team, but You are one of the few. Thank you. What else can one say? Thank you.
[sub] I always considered my sig quote an ironic quip - until now![/sub]

53

Thank you so much. You do us all proud.

54

If I may be so bold to say, Cartooniverse, this is absolutely one of the most profound pieces of writing that summarizes the true American spirit.

and I couldn’t agree more with :

Cartooniverse, you are incredible in the way you can help someone with the negative side and turn into a little flash of light…and if you are not careful, you just might find yourself on Oprah. :wink:

55

I finally worked up the nerve to read this thread.

Cartooniverse, you rock.

56

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest *
**

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

57

Thank you Cartooniverse for sharing your story. You are an amazing person.

58

I am glad that you were there to help people. I hope that you will have friends and loved ones to hold you and comfort you in the days ahead, if some of this starts to hit even harder.

59

Up. Everyone needs to read this.

60

Thank you. I’m in envy of your Karma account balance.