SUPPORT

Neopets was down this morning, so I turned on the television to find that the last tribute to the World Trade Center Towers just about to begin. I remember being awoken by my Sister and housemate to tell me about the attack just nine short months ago, the same amount of time for new life to be born.

I thought she was joking, then seeing the fire, the debris, the destruction, and the tapes of the planes hitting the towers, reality striking into my heart like a spike of burning pain. Then the plane hitting the Penatgon, and the final plane brought down in field. I have never been to NY nor did I ever get to see the towers in person, but this doesn't make the pain and sense of loss any less for me. I grew up around police and fire fighters, I spent time being a military wife. I knew what this meant to all of us, our country, my friends and family, and yes even the world.

With talking with my older friends and relatives, who remembered another direct attack on the US, Pearl Harbor, they say this was worse for them. These were civilians for the most part, they had no idea that thier lives were on the line as they went to work, the attack on Pearl Harbor was against the military, and when you are sworn in you know at any time your life could be called on in defense of your country and you could die at any time.

My Sister and I sat in from of the television for 3 days watching, praying, and lighting candles. We cried and asked our Gods for justice, for safety of the men and women left out there, and those working to get people out, we asked also for hope, for peace, and yes in the early days vengence. Now nine months later I watch this final tribute, and once again I cry. This time in sympathy for the families who lost someone, the friends and co-workers who no longer have that person in their lives. For the jobs lost and the families struggling for a new start. And for the innocence we, as a nation, have lost. No more can we hold ourselves apart from the world, saying "We know it happens there, but NOT here."

We must be aware and find that pride of country again, and nuture and maintain it. We must use this energy we have wisely, our resources more wisely, and not use this as an excuse to become World Cop, or to become a nation which is gripped and controlled through terror and fear. Take a moment of your day, and thank the Gods for this lesson, and learn from it! Turn off that extra lamp, recycle your trash, buy energy efficient products more often, conserve our resources. For someday we may have to rely strictly on what we can produce, if those in power decide WAR is our only answer, we may have to go back to the ways of the 1940's.

We must find our place again in this community called the world. America is still reeling from these attacks, in more ways than one, our patriotism seems to be lessening when we go out to get a new car, take out the trash and do other mundane things. Our companies are moving out of the US, and setting up shop in Canada, Mexico and other parts of the World. Our economy still hasnt recovered, I know many people look for jobs, and many companies folding up shop and going out of business. Soon this too will pass if we help it to pass. If there isn't a job in your field, then find another field, find and do your research you all have many talents.

Some of us cannot work, but we still contribute, both here in neopets and in the world. Take up your computers get involved in our governmental decisions, keep us from wasting unnecessary tax dollars where ever you find it. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, a library, your local community be it a church, a community center, a coven, a mosque, whatever.

Take up your computers write your Senators, your Congressmen, VOTE, find out who you are voting for and become involved in running the nation. Your tax dollars are a large part of the economy find out how it is being spent. Become involved in Life. This is what I find is the most important message from the tradegy of September 11, 2001. Do not let the past bind you up in hate, revenge, and fear; this was the utimate goal ofthese attacks tomake us scared, dependant, and hateful. Instead take that energy and transmute it into health, prosperity, hope and laughter.

Life is too short to waste, only by making an effort at the personal level will it go up the chain to our families, our cities, our counties, states, our nation and yes our world.