Sept. 11 - 12 years on. I'm still OK

sept. 11 12 years on, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

Wow. This 12th anniversary of the World Trade Center destruction snuck up on me.

I was walking to work this morning, a Friday-morning lift to my gait, and 'wham!' 

There it was. An event coming up on "September 11."
Oh, yeah, that date sounds familiar.   I'd forgotten all about it.

For years, I've dreaded the date as it approaches.  The 10th anniversary was killer: way too much. Way too many stories were revisited.

But this year, it seems, I was forgetting the significance of 9/11 .. or else I just haven't been carrying it so close to the skin as before.

But 'wham!' This sign, this morning, pushed sweat to my palms, snatched at my breath, spun me around to take a closer look.

Yep, Sept. 11 is coming. The employer panel they are advertising has nothing to do with Sept. 11, 2001.  But I don't think I'd have used the shadowy image of an airplane to draw a crowd to an event on that day.

Here's to a peaceful week and a fine Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013.   Each year gets a little better.


Robin, Phoenix

Totally Perfect Moment Weekend

The purpose of this blog was to point out Perfect Moment's as we work through our days. But this time I wanted to talk about my Perfect Moment weekend, a weekend full of moments that made me smile, made me outright laugh, made me "feel the inner light" made me envious and made me cheer out loud. Lets just say it was one amazing weekend!

It all began on Friday when I heard this giggle as I was walking through the mall. It was an indoor carousel. You always see those pictures in movies when a kid and their parents are riding on them and having the time of their lives. I can't say as I ever remember riding on a carousel, but I am always intrigued, and they always make me stop and watch. But this time it was the sound of this little boy that drew my attention.

He was all alone on this carousel with his mother, the only ones on the ride. And he held on to that horse and to his mom so tight and was just laughing and laughing. I couldn't help but wish I was on the horse next to him! His infectious laughter made me feel like a kid again, made me remember how much fun it was to enjoy something for the first time, that sheer wonder! I thought to myself, what an amazing way to start my weekend! I walked out of the mall with a big smile on my face!

Saturday I had my perfect day and just lounged around in my pajamas with the person I love watching bad movies. It was fantastic!

This joyful bounty of perfect moments continued on Sunday morning when I went to this yoga class. It was a class where we were concentrating on the heart. As I laid down on the mat, and listened to the instructor tell me to "invite the light" into my heart, I have to admit it gave me an amazing feeling.

I don't know what the heck was going on! You can read anything into it that you want, but what I can say is that I smiled, a big old smile! I couldn't fight this smile that started in my heart and then spread out to my toes and the top of my head. It was quite amazing! And then the class ended with us breathing, and my favorite song playing, Haleluhah! One heck of a Karma moment!

So, then I got in my car and was headed home and stopped at a light, and I was still smiling about my class, when I looked to my left and saw this ... a truck literally covered in mud. At this point I just broke out laughing! What the heck had this truck been doing all weekend that it was literally covered from top to bottom in mud??? All I could think about was it must have been a Perfect Moment for the two kids driving the truck! I wanted to play in the mud as well!

Then, it was time for the icing on my Perfect Moment Weekend... The Giants versus the San Francisco 49'ers.

Now, for those of you who don't know it, I am a huge football fan, especially love the Giants. So, today I did my "smack talking" as my dad would say.

I lived and died many deaths throughout the four-hour game which went into overtime, but lost it when the Giants made that field goal, and are now headed to the Super Bowl! I love this weekend, and wanted you all to share in it with me!

Sue, Tempe

New York's Empire State of Mind

From the school's YouTube page:
The PS22 Chorus delivers big time on this New York anthem by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys! Props to Dominique & Messale for amazing jobs on the lead vocals & rap (respectively). And of course to Ethan for a well-deserved happy dance at the song's conclusion.

We based our version more on the Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind Part II," but as a tribute to Jay-Z version, the kids and I created our own little rap that obviously was a bit more age appropriate.

I've been singing this song all morning... at least the Alicia Keys part... and up pops Dwayne Rodgers, @DiggsWayne on Twitter, spreading the word about these kids at PS22 (that's New York City, folks) singing their version of the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys anthem.

The original (not for small children):



The lyrics that drive this song:
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York


Robin, Tempe, Arizona