September 11

Are we back to “normal” yet? Also, a poem.

1980

I am having some difficulty in my dealings with C. She appears to have very definite plans for the department, especially in regards to acquiring objects for the collection - which is my job, not hers. What to do, what to do?

1989

Mondays are always a trial, all the more so when they are taken up by the meetings. On the other hand, both meetings were informative and relatively short; can't complain there. I am not only ready for Brownies, I'm looking forward to our first meeting, which takes place tomorrow night. There are so many fun things to do with the troop; it's hard to choose them sometimes.

Kiddo 1 is suddenly into soccer, having had a couple of good games. She seems to be finally mature enough - - physically and mentally – – to be able to play the game at a level that is satisfying to her. She played really well tonight. It was as if she was another child.

Odd – today was very hectic, but it was still a very good, satisfying day. If it hadn't been so god-awful muggy and hot, it would've been really nice!

1997

Another warmish, humid fall day. After being teased last week with that glorious clear, crisp weather, it is so demoralizing to sag backing this oppressive heat.

I love my schedule this semester: afternoon classes M-W, then two open days in a row. What bliss! Morning as home have been both restful and productive. Even the dogs love it.

The oak trees in the back yard are heavy with acorns. I wonder, if we have a storm today, how many will I have to rake up this weekend?

2002

9/11/2001

A year has passed
It was an ordinary day
No, extraordinary.
Sunny
Bright
Warm with a taste of fall.

In a blink of the cosmic eye
The heavens fell
Lives collapsed
Doors were closed.

It is an ordinary day
No, extraordinary.
Sunny
Bright
Warm with a taste of fall.

Heaven survives
Our lives knit slowly.
But the doors, once open
Are closed forever.

On this ordinary day
This Day of Awe
Say hello
Say I love you
Apologize from the heart.
Forgive from the heart.
Postpone no loving words; the door may close.

In memory of Leslie Whittington, Charles Falkenberg, and their children Zoë and Dana Falkenberg, passengers on American Airlines flight 77, 9/11/01.

Comment 2023

It does not surprise me that I made no journal entries on September 11, 2001. The day itself was chaos. I was the director of an undergraduate learning community and responsible for seventy or so first-year students who had only been on campus (and away from home) for two weeks. A large proportion of them were from the New York metropolitan area. So as soon as I could, I headed to my office in their dormitory to handle whatever was going on. What was going on was panic.

It was a beautiful day, and all of our windows were open. At some point - I can’t remember when - I heard a neighbor scream. A few minutes later the phone rang; it was my friend Leslie’s mother. The family had been on their way to Australia, where Leslie had a sabbatical year appointment, and called her just before they boarded Flight 77. 

I was on the search committee that hired Leslie.  She was one of the junior faculty I had to find a new “home” for when the department imploded, and we had lost touch over the years. 

2017

Today is Monday. Yesterday was choir/water communion. Great music, good times. Jim had to work, so I came home and watched the next SRK movie on my list, “Billu”. Nice one!

Comment 2023

Billu is now one of my favorites: nice music, good dance numbers, lovely story. The real focus of the story is Billu, a struggling village barber played by the magnificent Irrfan Khan, who died in 2020 at the age of 53. A huge loss. Watch it on Netflix.

2023

Today I have a podiatrist appointment and a choral rehearsal. Are we back to “normal” yet?

2024

We were never normal.