09.25.11

I went to Sam's Club today for the first time in over a year because the Sam's Club nearest me has closed. After they spent six months remodeling the place, within 30 days ... it was closed. Such folly.

Anyhow, inside the Sam's Club on Bell Road was practically deserted which was odd because the parking lot was almost full of vehicles. I found myself wondering if there was a special sales floor that only a special group can shop.

I walked up and down every aisle (1) for the exercise and (2) to see if they had anything new.

Found nothing of interest. No huge freaky Halloween display although the Christmas trees were lit and glowing as beacons warning of the holidays forthcoming.

I did find a Halloween door wreath that was kinda interesting in black and orange ... but next to it was another Halloween wreath in orange and purple. When did orange and purple become Halloween chic?

I left and drove the ten or so miles to Paradise Valley to shop at my ol' friend, Costco.

I think all of the people must have parked at Sam's Club and carpooled to Costco! That place was a zoo: packed aisles, long lines and a bevy of screaming kidlets.

Interestingly enough, they too, did not have a large Halloween display and very little in way of decorations. I find this very odd since I have read articles and seen surveys that indicate that Halloween is the second biggest holiday celebration in the U.S. ... behind Christmas and before Thanksgiving and Independence Day.

Have the ghosts and goblins of the recessive economy hit the holiday market? Spooky.

Standing in line with my purchase of apples and tomatoes, I overheard a panicked looking Costco food worker telling a co-worker that they were out of pizza at the counter. WTH? Their menu consists of hot dogs and pizza ... and 50% of their inventory is depleted?!

For cripes sake people, Costco is a monument to abundance! There are freshly made uncooked pizzas at the other end of the friggin' store. Use some initiative, push a cart down there and bring back a load of pies to throw in the oven!

I waited patiently in line at the register, flirted with the guy unloading carts, paid for the apples and tomatoes ... and walked past the very long line of unsuspecting folk who would soon be told "no pizza for you".

It was all I could do to refrain from yelling, "Hey, Sam's Club is empty and they HAVE pizza! But be advised ... take a bus 'cause there's no where to park!"

[2:30pm MST] [Permalink]

09.11.11

It's been ten years.

It seems like only yesterday that I sat in my lightweight cotton nightie watching the morning news ... wishing the weather would cool down ... when the local anchor interrupted the broadcast.

Listening and watching the events of 9/11 throughout the day ... and for the weeks thereafter ... and feeling hopeless because I could not help.

Ten years. Ten years of living with new words added to our everyday vocabulary ... such as "terror threat", "shoe bomb", "body scanner", "Al Qaeda", "Taliban", "anthrax", "burqa", "jihad" ... and Osama bin Laden. Phrases that took on new meaning like "Let's roll" and "evildoers" and "Ground Zero".

Ten years of watching soldiers going off to war in mystical, faraway places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan ... to fight an enemy that attacked us on American soil. Ten years of watching troops return home to a hero's welcome ... while others came home to a mourner's grief.

Things have changed a great deal in ten years here in America and for that matter, throughout the world.

One thing, however, has not changed:

The recollection of that day. The images from the Pentagon, from Stonycreek Township near Shanksville ... and from the World Trade Center ... these images are forever burned into the minds, hearts and spirits of Americans who will never forget the sacrifice and the heroism.

My heart aches for the unmeasurable loss suffered by families, friends, our country ... and the world ... and ultimately, the loss of innocence.

In a decade of reflection, I find that I must keep reminding myself that without suffering there is no compassion.

It's been ten years. While so very much has changed ... what is the one, ever-vigilant constant?

Compassion.

America is a country that rebuilds, renews, regroups and resurrects ... and through compassion ... America remembers.

[12:01am MST] [Permalink]