In Remembrance

By cliopatra

Apr

19

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 19: An Oklahoma Cit...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

You never forget your first terrorist attack, especially when it happens in your own hometown.  Today marks the 14th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing.

I was at work that morning, 8 miles away or so, and we felt the blast shake our building.  What happened after that was a blur of volunteer efforts, standing in line for hours to give blood, countless prayers and an ocean of tears.  There was sadness, fear and anger.

I am still, to this day, so proud of my fellow Oklahomans.  Their responses were swift and sure.  Everyone pitched it and started digging – whether it was at the site, in their pockets, or with their hearts.  As they say, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.

Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

Image by citron_smurf via Flickr

.

I was honored to volunteer then, and then years later I volunteered at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, a stunningly beautiful and peaceful place nestled in the heart of Oklahoma City.

I do hope that if you ever get the chance, you will visit that Memorial, and either remember that day and those people, or learn more about it.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Heading Home

By cliopatra

Apr

22

Day after tomorrow Irish and I will be winging our way to Oklahoma City for a longish weekend visit. OKC is where I’m from, and I haven’t been back to visit since I moved to Naples in February 2006.

This visit nearly coincides with my birthday. We’ll be flying out there on Thursday and coming back on Monday. My birthday is on Tuesday.

I had only two things on my list that I had to do while we are there:

  1. Attend the Arts Festival
  2. Go to Church

I also wanted to eat at Abuelo’s, and see my grandmother and my best friend, and just enjoy OKC in the spring (hopefully minus tornadoes).

I was talking to my best friend Q yesterday morning, and I mentioned that something had reminded me of the Memorial Marathon. We worked it a few years ago, serving pasta at the dinner the night before, and handing out finish line medals at the end of the marathon.

She mentioned that she had heard there was a 5k fun walk associated with the marathon. I blurted “we should do that!” and we talked about it all the way to work. Then I got online and saw that the walk starts at 6:40 a.m. on Sunday and called to tell her.

“That’s no problem,” she said.

I gulped “yeah, no problem for me either.”

So we’re doing it. Actually, I think it will be fun.