#400 Published!

Yay!! So happy to reach another milestone! This one is a big one, too. I hope there are at least 4K more, thanks for being on my journey with me.

Listening to my new Bon Jovi CD about 2020 is a great way to start the day. It seems I’ve been making some typing errors this morning, it seems I’m typing DC instead of CD and a great day to start the way. Haha. I think I haven’t completely awakened yet. The Babe is home today and is playing with the dogs outside. They love when he’s home. It’s rare he’s home all day on Tuesday.

I watched quite a bit of the videos on Hashtag Summit yesterday. Searching for hashtags applying to my niche is what I need to do next. Where did the word niche come from? Google tells me it’s a one-stop shop for college searchers. I’m guessing that’s not it. I suppose a place, employment, status or activity a person is most suited for is the definition I’ll accept, along with a specialized market, an ecological habitat, not so much.

One thing I’ve noticed in writing is there are so many possibilities for words compared to even twenty years ago. They are invented all over the place, many in social media and in social groups. It’s a little hard to keep up with, but having grandkids helps keep you in the loop. Kids, too.

Today’s topic on my week long training is TIK TOK. I’m pretty unsure about it. I picture that to be for my grandkids, not me or my fellow authors. I’ll let you know on that one. I’m trying to stay open minded, so we’ll see.

The Bon Jovi album 2020 is pretty inclusive of this year. It has songs that reflect on brutality by the police, the camaraderie of soldiers, and stepping up to help. All part of the crazy puzzle that is 2020. I like when songwriters can hit is just right. They’re doing their jobs. Springsteen did that in my younger days – the factories closing during a bad economy, with jobs leaving. Textile mills, steel mills, autoworkers, they all left dead towns in their wake. It was so very sad. He did it again after 9/11. He told the story of the day America was attacked, and did it with eloquence. No politics in any of it. I loved knowing the feelings are finally identified, the rawness of real life (much to our horror), and the after shocks were real and they were talked about. The losses were felt nationwide. We united. I hope we do that again. If not, we’re probably in trouble.

Later today, we’re having a meeting at the post about communication and advertising of events. Communication is important in any organization, and the advertisement of events are crucial to getting word out for attendees and bring in the funds to help where it’s needed. Luckily, in being their Webmaster, FB, & Instagram/Twitter poster, I can use the training I’m watching for them as well. It helps us to know what will draw in a younger crowd, and helping the organization help the younger Veterans as well.

I’m going to write a draft of Chapter 2 later today, and sent it to Sam prior to our meeting Thursday. She requested I try it if I have time, and I’ll make time for it. I believe it’s becoming easier to figure out what will tell the story in the best way way possible. It’ll be good to see if I can stick with my outline. You know how those crazy writers are!

It’s hard to believe, this is blog number 400. That’s an accomplishment. I’m going to think about that as well, for awhile. I hope you have a beautiful day, working on whatever you’re doing. I appreciate your time today, and hope to see you again tomorrow. Take Care. Be Safe. Be Kind.

Yes, I Remember

Yes, I remember where I was when I heard about the attack on America. My oldest son’s car broke down, so I gave him a ride to the construction site he was working at in Ashland, NE. It was a Street of Dreams Home under construction. I got to the intersection where the Outlet Mall was, and the Babe called me. He told me a plane struck the World Trade Center. I started to cry, and couldn’t figure out how that could happen. Once I got home, I watched TV, the tears really fell. How could this happen?

Three days before, we celebrated the wedding of one of our daughters, Tracy, to TJ. It was the most beautiful week of parties, bonding, and happiness. Our blended family had it’s first wedding, and everyone was there. Son Blake and his fiancee Monica got on a plane Monday, September 10th, to go back home. Blake was a new uniformed officer for the United States Secret Service. He was due back at work on Tuesday. Monica was to report to her job at a dental clinic. Blake and his co-workers all were stationed at various places around Washington, DC. They did not know what happened. We knew more than he did at the time.

The whole day took a toll on everyone’s emotions. Many people from our Church had loved ones in New York or Washington. The Babe and I were going to lead a class for Stephen’s Ministry and the first class was to be that evening. It didn’t happen. Our friend and pastor, Dr. Mary Hansen, asked instead that I talk at the Church service that evening. I was honored.

The whole premise of Stephen’s Ministry is to be a support to people who are going through some turmoil. 9/11 certainly qualifies as turmoil. I talked about how we had a family wedding right in that Church three days before. And right now, the young man who was at his sister’s wedding Saturday, was guarding the Treasury Building three days later. Other Church family members were scattered across the country. No one was lost that day, no one was injured. We were all more afraid than we could remember being.

Nineteen years later, I am deeply saddened how our First Responders are demonized instead of honored. I am so saddened at the death of the Lincoln Police Officer Herrera. He was also an Army Veteran and will be buried at the Omaha National Cemetery tomorrow. First Responders are still the first we turn to in times of crisis. We need them, and we need them healthy in body, mind, and spirit. Take time to thank them for always being there all these nineteen years later. Thank you to our military and First Responders. We would not still be here without you. I am still sad about the innocent lives lost that day.

When I picked my son up that afternoon, as he got in the car, he asked, “OK, so what happened today. I knew something was wrong, there were no planes in the air. That never happens.” I told him about the day’s happenings. He asked if we heard from Blake and Monica. At that time, no, we hadn’t, but Monica keeping Blake’s Mom informed.

So many things have changed since then. Blake’s Mom has passed away. He has been promoted from a uniformed officer to Captain in the Secret Service. He is Captain in his favorite division, and his retirement time is coming up quickly. His dad is retired. Blake and Monica have a wonderful son we love to bits. Tracy and TJ have two beautiful kids, as do Becky and Brian in Colorado. We have gone from wanting our world safe for us to praying it is for our kids and grandkids.

Many things have not changed. Some people hate the United States with such a passion, it’s frightening. It’s frightening how many people are hateful to each other right here in America. The time after 9/11, Church attendance spiked at an unprecedented rate. It stayed there for a long time. It is frightening how many people want to embrace Socialism. Let’s not even go there, please. Those 3,000 + patriots who died that day died not so we could compromise on our ideals and way of life, they cannot have died in vain.

Let’s take a long, hard look at ourselves, and adjust our priorities. Our country needs to remain strong and it need to remain dominant in the world. We still need to be a leader as an example of a way of life that guarantees freedoms for everyone. We need to accept responsibility for ourselves first, and give a hard day’s work for our earnings, not live on handouts. We need to be self-reliant so if the world takes another bad turn we can find our ways out of the rubble.

God Bless America. Please.