You are. And that is enough.
While watching Wheel of Fortune earlier today, one puzzle was “Husband & Wife”. The ampersand was there, then after the contestants had chosen N and T, I figured out the answer: KEVIN FEDERLINE & BRITNEY SPEARS.
Here’s my dilemma: Should I be thrilled that I solved it so quickly or depressed that pop culture has tarnished my brain so thoroughly?
It’s the 5th anniversary of 9/11. What was once another day of another week of another month of another year is now a day of tragedy, of patriotism, of loss, of remembrance. But who owns it? When circling September 11th on your calendar, who belongs in that circle? It used to be people’s birthdays and anniversaries, new jobs and retirements, haircuts and doctor’s appointments. Now who do we think of? Now who owns the day?
Is it the terrorists? 9/11 has been burned into our minds. Every year, we feel the loss of the World Trade Center all over again. Seeing videos from five years past of fireballs erupting through the buildings on impact still chills me to the core. And we know why it happened: because terrorists hijacked some planes on an average day, flew them into New York City and created a pair of blazing infernos. Do they sit in their homes and bunkers knowing that they caused such devastation? Knowing that it was a moral and religious victory in their eyes and a loss in ours? Knowing that they own the day?
Is it the politicians? September 11th has become the justification for countless acts of war in the last five years. The terrorists attacked us on our own soil, so we should attack them on theirs. The terrorists remained anonymous until they hijacked the planes, so we should give up some of our freedoms to ensure that terrorists can never remain anonymous again. There are many instances when people have wanted to act, but had they done so, “the terrorists have won.” Do the politicians sit in their offices knowing that they can distract people through patriotism? Knowing that it can justify terrorist-like actions of their own? Knowing that they own the day?
My personal belief is still that it belongs to the people. It may mean more than birthdays and anniversaries now, but it is still a day to think of the goodness that resides in everyone’s heart. When the towers exploded, people converged. When the towers collapsed, people stood and offered of themselves. When the towers were nothing more than a memory, people made it a day of celebration. It is a day of loss, but it is a day to know we are alive and we are one as a people. September 11th may have its own page in the history books, but that page belongs to us. We, the people of the United States of America, own the day. God bless us all.
I’ve said many times that this damn well better happen because of the popularity of the show, but I now have solid evidence that Beauty and the Geek will be coming out on DVD! Now the only question is whether the WB will splurge a little and send me a free copy or if they’ll make me buy it off the shelves like everyone else…
I’m not sure why the postal system delivers things when they do, but I am oh-so-confused about some of the stuff I’ve pulled out of my mailbox over the last few days.
On Saturday, September 2nd, I got a letter from the American Bar Association. I only glanced at it briefly and can’t recall the details—I think they wanted me to pay some money to upgrade my membership from cool lawyer to super-cool lawyer. What I do remember is a little plastic space on the front of the envelope.
Well, technically, there were two. In one, you could see my name and address (I’m assuming that was for the benefit of the postal service). In the other, it asked me to please respond promptly. By August 31st. I haven’t the slightest idea who that was for the benefit of, given that there was no way in hell for me to reply by the requested response date. Maybe if my magic mailbox that can send letters four days into the past was working…
Then I got a package in the mail today, September 5th, from the Stephen King Library. They automatically send me his newest book as soon as it gets published; instead of paying $35 plus tax at the bookstore, I get it for less than $20 (which includes shipping, handling, and spanking the yak). I got a hardcover version of ‘Salem’s Lot a couple months ago—the full, unedited version that includes illustrations and four or five short stories at the end—but like I said, it came out a couple months ago. You’d think they’d space the release of new books a little further apart so they wouldn’t be fighting each other for space on the best-seller list, right?
Well, you’d be right. The package wasn’t a new book—it was the 2007 Stephen King Desk Calendar. I just have one question: When did New Year’s and Christmas start competing for which could start earliest in the fall?! I still have almost four full months left in my current calendar, but now, if I need to schedule an appointment on April 12th of next year, I’ll be set!
The last time I checked, people have been putting up their Christmas decorations the day after Halloween, but New Year’s has suddenly pulled ahead to start the day after Labor Day. I swear to God, if I ever see a holiday calendar in my mailbox on July 5th, I’m gonna upgrade my ABA membership just so I can sue Santa Claus for emotional distress. (If I win, then I can afford to buy everyone’s Christmas gifts that early.)
