It was a Tuesday.
The oldest 5 kids were at school.
The TV was on in the background
Then our local TV station broke in
and were talking about a plane
crashing into a building in New York City.
I sat down in front of the TV
for more information.
At first I thought it might be
a small engine plane
just a random lost pilot
who crashed into a building.
The word"terrorist"
came out of the TV.
Terrorist? really?
I had no idea.
Then in horror,
the 2nd plane hit
and I was glued to the TV
listening for more.
Then the Plane crash
in Pennsylvania.
Who was attacking us
and why?
President Bush was supposedly
already in the air
on his way to Norad...
right here in the Springs.
All air traffic came to a halt.
And our Air Force Academy closed it's gates.
Nobody In, Nobody Out.
I picked up my kids
from school.
and held them tightly at home,
waiting for
"what's next?"
As my kids and I watched the news,
Dani turned to me and said
"what about the kids?"--
meaning the children whose parents
died in the terror.
"We have to do something, Mom."
Two days later,
Dani put together a
non-profit organization
called
"TLC TEDDIES"--
she launched a huge teddy bear drive
and got some local newspaper
and radio attention for it.
This being a huge military town,
donations came from
EVERYWHERE!
Everyday was like Christmas
at our house...
just a constant flow of bears
coming in the front door.
In all shapes and sizes!
One night the phone rang,
I answered it, and the voice on the other end
said,
"Look on the porch!"
We all made a mad dash
to the front door
to find half-dozen beautiful
Gund Bears sitting together
on the porch swing!
We never did find out
who left them,
but Wow! what a fun
surprise!
Bears came from everywhere:
The police department
high schools
elementary schools
One Edison Elementary
handmade teddy bears in
patriotic fabric for the drive!
They were beautiful and each had
a sweet message attached
by the child who'd sewn it.
Walmart
Daycare centers
Businesses
Churches...
Bears came from
all over the country--
Chicago
San Francisco
and Houston;
in the end she collected
nearly 5,000
brand new or nearly new
teddy bears.
Swift trucking
out of Phoenix, AZ.
sent a truck to our house
and took those bears to
United Way
in New York City, NY
just before
Thanksgiving Day.
We cried when the truck left--
the people who came to our
home and dropped them
off,
shared their own stories and feelings
about 9/11.
We loved
loved
loved
having a house full
of
Teddy Bears!
Doing something for others
helped us to heal from the
sorrow and fear.
Our only hope is that
those little bears
comforted some little one's
hearts too.
Isn't it amazing
that's how it always is?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20011028/ai_n9996430/
Dani's hand-made poster...
Dani and a portion of the bears that filled our livingroom for months.
What about you? Where were you?
Did you do anything to help heal yourself,
your family or your country?
Did you do anything to help heal yourself,
your family or your country?
That is one amazing girl you've got there.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE what Dani did. How cool is that?!
ReplyDeleteBeing in California, Dave hadn't even left for work yet when tragedy struck. He was in the shower, and I was just getting up and watching the news when I saw the plane hit. Like you, I thought it was a small plane gone astray. All too soon, it became clear that it was far more than that.
At the time, I was writing for Deseret Book's online magazine (then Mormon-Life, now LDS LIving). As usual, my first reaction was to get my feelings down on paper, and that's what I did in a couple of articles. As far as helping the relief efforts, we and everyone I know around here made donations (goods and money) to every group that seemed legit. Unlike Dani, we didn't start one of our own, though.
I'm impressed!
=)
I was at home, watching the Today Show and I said after the first plane hit, "terrorists" and after the second plane hit, " both towers are going to collapse" to my Hubs...
ReplyDeleteAll our kids called for assurance that we would be alright. It was a devastating day but not a surprise...terrorists have been trying for years to destroy America.
On a much happier note:
That is just awesome about the Teddy Drive ! LOL
Wow. What a tremendous service. Love all those bears.
ReplyDeleteI was at home, cleaning the house, when my husband called and told me to turn on the TV. I was horrified by what I saw and scared of what lay ahead. I still cannot believe it happened and feel sad for all of those who lost loved ones that day.
I bet lots of those kids still have their bears. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI was home with Charlie who was just over 2. Mike was taking Annie to preschool. I went to pick her up an hour later. It felt like we should be together. We all slept in the same bed that night.
What a great daughter you have!! I am sure her efforts blessed the lives of all those who received the bears. Interesting we used to live by the owners of Swift and the current president now lives near us.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone will remember exactly where they were that morning. I was hosting a birthday breakfast for my good friend when my husband called after hearing the news on the car radio. That same neighbor's husband later drove to NY with construction supplies to help out. My husband's company also donated supplies. It is too bad we can't maintain that same spirit of unity during less physically threatening times.
How healing it must have been to DO something! I think that's fantastic. Wow! I may write about my 9/11 memory. Such a very scary time!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful heart your daughter has!
ReplyDeleteThis made me cry. It was such a tragic day, and yet your daughter took and made it into something beautiful. That is incredible!
ReplyDeleteThanks you for sharing and inspiring me today.