What this picture is
This is a picture of my son Christopher McFarland playing with his rescue hero toys. He called them "his guys." Behind Chris is our older son Daniel. He is resting his head on the arm of the couch as he watches Chris play. To the left of Daniel are children's books in a book rack strategically placed to encourage "reading." In front of the books is a wooden toy box that Chris and Daniel's great grandmother, Veda Stone had made for their dad. She had a box made for each of her five grandchildren. To the far right is a poster of 10 yoga poses for kids. On the floor is a Native American rug that belonged to same grandmother. She was a social worker who spent the majority of her career supporting and advocating for Native Americans in and around Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Why I saved this picture
This picture brings me back to a Norman Rockwell type of moment for me in 2003. We lived in the top unit of two flat in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. After our sons were born this living room became part-nursery. We spent a lot of time in that room sharing moments just like the one in the photo.
It was in that room a few years earlier that I first learned of what we would later call 911.
My husband, John called to tell me to "turn on the TV." At the time, Chris was 3-months-old and Daniel was two-years-old. I probably had a Thomas the Train video playing when John called. I turned on the live television and along with the rest of the world, I watched the events unfold, the second tower get hit, the first tower collapse, the second tower collapse. I watched for what seemed like hours.
I remember at one point pulling out a box of cookies and just handing it to Daniel. At another point, I opened the front door to look outside to see if anyone was around. I saw my friend and neighbor Jenny walking her dog.
She and I were both in shock over the events. She asked me if the news was saying why the terrorists did this. I remember repeating to her what I'd heard a commentator say. "It's because they don't like America."
Jenny and I had plans that night to have pizza with two or three other couples and their small children. We called this event "Pizza Night." We rotated hosting this monthly gathering, which was fun for our kids and provided kinship for the adults.
This night, September 11, 2001, pizza night was scheduled to be at Jenny's. She asked if she should cancel it. We agreed we should still have Pizza Night and we would keep the TV off.
So that's what we did. Around 6 pm, we came together. We gave our kids and ourselves some comfort and camaraderie and a respite from atrocity that was just beginning to be understood.
We had no idea yet of how many of our friends would be personally touched by 911 and how 911 would change our lives forever.
We need each other
When disaster strikes or even just plain old bad news needs to shared, pull people together to share the burden of hearing it, and to help one another keep proper perspective. When you do, you remind them of your support and the support they have from each other.
Key Points