I’ll remember my way and you forget your way…or…rants from the sickbed…

I have been sick for 3 weeks now. I tend to get very depressed when I can’t function and take care of everybody in my life who I need to take care of (my child, my hippie lawyers, my friends). I’ve gotta say that it’s times like this that get me thanking god every single day for when I’m healthy.

For my friends, blogger buddies, and readers who live with chronic illness, I’m giving you a huge shout-out this morning. You not only have my thoughts and prayers for good physical health, but for your emotional well-being as well. I don’t know how you stay strong…just know that you’ve got someone right here who’s sending good vibes your way. Hugs.

There is so much that I want to talk about. I can’t get clear-headed enough to write a full post about any one of these topics at length, but my heart is heavy with conflict and questions.

For instance:

When did it suddenly become “uncool” to commemorate 9/11? I read a ton of comments and posts this week practically stating that if you are commemorating it, you’re a shameful voyeur of the networks’ and administration’s exploitation of the tragedy.

WTF, people? This event scared the hell out of some of us. It was one of the most frightening days of my life. For a period of time, nobody knew if this attack was going to happen in every major city in the country. I feared for my husband (at the time) on that day who was a FedEx courier at the Federal Building and many of the tallest high-rises downtown, etc. I had a 1-year-old to think of in case some kind of worse (i.e., nuclear or biological) attack happened. Nobody had ever seen such a day like that in our lifetime!

Pardon me if I still grieve over that day just a bit. Many of my friends lost people close to them that day. The way of life that so many — right or wrong — took for granted was changed forever. As a new parent, it really traumatized me.

Look, I am just as disappointed in what President Bush has done to this country with regards to how he has handled this war as any liberal could ever claim to be. I put my trust in him in those days after 9/11…just like Hillary and many other Democrats did. He has profoundly disappointed.

However, the ceremonies and news coverage…as much as it may bring out your cynicism, for others it is a lifeline to healing.

There is no prescribed method to which one must adhere for them to be grieving correctly. For some, watching a day of coverage helps them press through that pain that they’ve been suppressing as they move on through their lives.

How dare you criticize those who aren’t as advanced in their methodology of grieving as you are.

Maybe 9/11 didn’t phase you at all. Fine. Kindly allow those for whom it did to commemorate it in the way they see fit — whether it’s from watching 12 hours of CNN or wearing an American Flag on their lapel or posting on their blog about it — free of being made to feel worse by being slammed politically or personally.

To do so might be useful in getting your viewpoint across more effectively…

…and to do so would most definitely convince me further of your supposed enlightenment.