| It was early in the evening when the phone call came. | | | | at the World Trade Center when the planes struck. |
| Reaching over, I grabbed the phone and was greeted | | | | What a dreadful affair that must have been for their |
| by my cousin who lives in New York City. There was | | | | mother. |
| a deep sadness in her voice as she told me that she | | | | And so, I decided to attend the memorial service. It |
| personally wanted to call me and invite me to the | | | | was one of the best things I ever could have done. |
| 5-year memorial service she'd be having for her two | | | | Just being there with friends and family members I |
| children. | | | | hadn't seen in years served as a reminder to me of |
| Although I have spoken with this cousin a number of | | | | what was important in life. |
| times since that tragic day, September 11th, five years | | | | Though nothing could bring back my cousin's children, |
| ago, it had been about 30 years since I last saw her. | | | | my presence and that of others brought a small |
| My work and other time constraints made it highly | | | | degree of comfort and hope and made it possible for |
| unlikely that I would be able to attend the event. And, | | | | her to "keep on keeping on." I would have been selfish |
| so, I told her that I wasn't sure that I could come, but I'd | | | | indeed, had I let my work and other commitments |
| try. | | | | prevented me from making that trip. |
| After the phone call, I dismissed the matter with the | | | | We may not usually think that we have an effect on |
| thought that I'd send a card with beautiful words of | | | | the lives of others, but we would be amazed at how |
| comfort and hope. As days went on, my thoughts | | | | wrong we could be. We do not need to make great |
| were absorbed with other things such as my writing, | | | | contributions to the world -- just small, consistent ones |
| my websites, my business associates, my books, my | | | | to those whose lives we touch. We could help so |
| friends, my children ... . | | | | many people by just taking the time to listen to them, |
| My children? Yes, many of us who have children | | | | comfort them or just bring them hope. |
| always think about them and trust that they do well. | | | | I am glad that I visited my cousin. I gained so much by |
| Mine were doing fine, but I still worried a bit. Someone | | | | being there. I will never be able to understand exactly |
| once told me in jest that the first 40 years of raising | | | | how she feels. Nobody could really understand exactly |
| children are the hardest. | | | | how someone else feels, but we could get a general |
| Here I was, thinking of my children who were happy | | | | idea. If we are understanding and compassionate, we |
| and successful whereas my cousin would never see | | | | will not only feel better about ourselves, but we may |
| her only two children on this Earth again. Her daughter | | | | have a tremendous, beneficial effect on those whose |
| and son were both in their twenties and were at work | | | | lives we touch. |