Where Were You When...

It's strange to think of the things we humans experience during our lifetimes. Everyone inevitably encounters incredible things and has amazing stories they can share with others down the road and, tonight, I just got to thinking about some of the headline stories I (and most likely most of you) have already experienced during my 24 years of life on this earth. I must say, twenty four years seems like a long time to have lived already -- a long time to have lived, to have learned, and to have loved. For this blog, I would just like to mention where I was during certain events in history and then ask you to reply to the question: WHERE WERE YOU WHEN these occured? It doesn't have to be for all of them if you don't have the time.

Here are only a few of the many, mainly tragic, Headline stories I remember, including where I was at the time when I heard the news (I must note that these are just a few off the top of my head and are not in any type of order; Again, these are just a handful of millions of headlines stories. Also, one should be reminded: just because it wasn't a national headline doesn't mean it wasn't important):

The Death of Princess Diana - It was around midnight and I had been sleeping on the couch in the den of my old house. My mom came in, frantically woke me up, turned on the tv and said, "The paparazzi has killed Princess Diana!" Shocked, I asked who the paparazzi was -- the word itself sounded very scary -- as if some acid-trip gang from "Alice n' Wonderland" had done her in. Just to note: To my knowledge, my mom no longer believes the paparazzi was to blame.

Tragedy at Waco/The Branch Dividians - I was in the 6th grade and my family and I had been paying close attention to the news covering the standoff there at the cult compound. One day, my dad picked me up from school and said, "Well, they killed the Branch Dividians today" (not that I agreed either way). It was quite a shock. We stayed up really late watching the news that night.

Oklahoma City Bombing - I am not quite sure where I was when I heard the news of the tragedy. However, something that still stands out in my mind when I think about this tragedy is the famous picture of the firefighter carrying the body of a deceased baby whom was covered in ashes. Absolutely horrifying.

Columbine - I don't remember where I was when I heard the news, but the news stories were just shocking and horribly saddening. All I can still ask is "WHY?"

O.J. Aquitted - I am not positive, but I think I was a freshman in highschool. I remember walking out of my class, into passing period, and hearing an older classmen yell into the halls "The Juice is Loose!" and people started cheering. The atmosphere was definately one of a hyper one, despite whether or not people agreed with the verdict.

Columbia Space Tragedy - I believe my mom called me early that morning and told me to turn on the tv. I turned it on and saw, on nearly all channels, that the Columbia had exploded. My mom had actually been outside at the time of explosion and described it as a "Sonic boom that shook the ground." Much of the debris fell in and around my hometown county.

September 11th - I began this Tuesday morning like any Tuesday morning. I woke up a little before 7 a.m., turned on "The Today Show" with my pals Katie Couric and Matt Lauer, got dressed, and headed out the door to my 8 a.m. Psyc Tests & Measurements class. After class had gotten out, a friend, Kristy, had asked me to walk clear across campus with her to the campus center. Strangely, I usually didn't take such a detour since my next class (at 9:30 a.m.) was in The Walling Lecture Hall, right on the side of campus where my 8 a.m. class had been. Whatever the case, I decided to take the detour.

When we entered the campus center, there were at least 30 or 40 people crowded around the main tv that was mounted in the center of the room. I wasn't quite sure what to think at first but I knew it had to be pretty bad as I heard the words "hijacking" on the tv. One girl in the crowd said, "Where are the World Trade Centers?" The world would soon know...

I remember then going to my 9:30 class only to have the professor let us out after 10 minutes, telling us to go home, pray, and watch tv because we were "witnessing history." So, I went home. As I walked in the door my phone was ringing and it was my sister, asking if I had heard and telling me she was scared. Then, my mom called. Then, my dad. The rest of my day (and many to come) was spent glued to my tv -- the innocent words of Katie Couric (from re-runs) lingering in my head, "It appears as if a plane has just flown into the World Trade Center."

One of the many things that stood out to me during those first few critical hours was seeing people's loved ones lined up by the hundreds up and down the streets of New York, holding pictures of their loved ones up to the tv cameras, tearfully pleeing things such as, "If you have seen him, please please please call...," or "If you are out there, please let me know you're okay. I love you." It makes my eyes tear up to think that most of those people never saw their loved one again.

September 11th, 2001, was probably the most silent day I had ever heard on campus.

Hurricane Katrina - Absolutely devastating. I have followed the storm very closely ever since it became of concern several hundred miles off shore. I cannot begin to imagine what those individuals suffering the devastation are going through. I have seen several stories of people separated from family members with no way of contacting them. Just tonight there was a story on the news about newborns being flown to Medical City in Dallas for care -- many of the babies' mothers were not able to be reached to tell them where they were taking the baby. There are so many stories of destructions that it is unbelieveable. This storm is going to effect everyone in the nation.

Hmm...

Today was my first day of class for one class that I switched into. I like the class but I must say a little bit about my professor (hopefully you will get a kick out of this):

I could tell the professor was a bit unusual from the time she was calling roll -- the little things she'd say and do. Also, she had a big "Sonic" cup that I am beginning to wonder about. One should always be suspicious of what is in those things ;) ! Here is where it gets good: Class is three hours long. During class we are allotted one 15 minute break. Well, at the very end of our break, our professor comes into the room and pulls her pack of cigarettes out from her bag. She grabbed one or more of them out of the pack and then looked as if she were going to light up right there in the class room. Then, however, she began looking for her car keys and couldn't find them. She said, "Who took my car keys? Come on -- who has them (being sarcastic -- uuum, I'm pretty sure!)? If you have them I will beat you down!" So, after realizing they were not going to be found in the room, she said, "Well shit. I'm just gonna go smoke my cigarettes" and walked out.

So, finally she came back in the room and talked for another 20 minutes or so and then said, "Does anyone feel like taking another break??" as if she had wanted to take one herself. We, as a class said no -- no break. So, then she randomly gets to talking about the Bible. She goes way into depth and started talking to us about Paul/Saul and the books he wrote, etc. and even to who had Jesus put to death. It didn't seem to fit into the class content all that much, but it was fun to hear her talk.

By the end of the class we were told we needed to "Open ourselves to the universe and let the universe speak to us" in order to become great counselors. At first I thought it sounded whack, but now I suppose I see what she meant by it.

This should be an interesting semester!

You probably just should have been there.

Me? Tagged?

I've Been Tagged, Too...
My pal, Kim, has tagged me. Because of this, I must list the top 10 songs that are my favorite at this current time (not my top 10 favorite songs of all time). In no particular order they are:

“Listen to Your Heart” – D.H.T.
“Somewhere Only We Know” – Keane
“You and Me” – Life House
“Beverly Hills” – Weezer
“Everybody’s Changing” – Keane
“Runaway Train” – Soul Asylum
“All For Believing” – Missy Higgins
“Untitled” – Simple Plan
“Because of You” – Kelly Clarkson
“Don’t Lie” – Black Eyed Peas

So now I have to tag others that MUST fulfill these "having been tagged" requirements (as Kim put it). So, I think I'll just tag my cousin, Tricia (and anyone out there who may have the desire to be tagged <-- Is that playing fair?). So, go forth and fulfill your newly found duties.

Please Come Home for Christmas, Doggie.

Will Ellie ever get to come back home, here again, to her dear mother and brother (Leo)? Where can I get a reputable animal caseworker (not a caseworker animal, that is different of course -- Which reminds me: I heard Simba and Nala went into case management together somewhere in Idaho)? Also, how can I keep my four-legged daughter from getting so bored here in the daytime? Animal Planet? Nah, cable is too expensive. Oh, and, she'll need a tutor. Hmm...

Hmm...

And...

Hmm, again.

What a Mess For: Pat Robertson

Recently, as you may have heard, Pat Robertson, the well-known Christian televangelist, called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. This left me asking a few questions:

(1) Is Pat Robertson really a man of God?

Only God knows for sure. However, we are in denial if we cannot admit that we all commit sins. The man said something stupid -- malicious intent or no malicious intent. However, again, that is no excuse for what was said.

(2) Should Pat Robertson have said what he said?

Although there are basic ammendment rights (not that I totally believe we always have them), what he said, regardless of underlying intention or mistakes, was actually a call to terrorism -- and nobody has the right to terrorism. This guy has a lot of influence over his viewers -- people must be careful. Maybe there is another way, besides murder(!), to avoid another $200 billion + war. Hmm.

(3) Are people like Pat Robertson a danger to the image of Christianity?

Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps as long as we are all sinners, we are all dangers. Perhaps not. What's best to be done about it?

(4) Should he continue preaching things like this (which, in the past, he has apparently said other stupid/risky things) to thousands and thousands of viewers? Should we weigh the good against the bad? Should we even try to judge it?

You decide.

The following is the link to a really interesting article written by Patti Davis, daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, that appeared in Newsweek concerning the Robertson ordeal. I am not sure I agree with it one way or another, but I did find it interesting nonetheless: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9053644/site/newsweek/