Sunday, September 11, 2011

Ten Years Ago







9.10.01 I remember driving in my car. Blue sky. Sun shining. Radio blaring. My arm dancing outside the car window, feeling the cool breeze. I remember smiling and thinking, " This is such a beautiful day!" 9.11.01 My then boyfriend and I were fast asleep when I received a phonecall from my mom. "Turn on the tv," she said. Lazily I turned it on, but couldn't understand what I was seeing. It was a news report with a split-screen image labeled "New York" and "Washington, D.C." Things were smoking and on fire. I thought I was witnessing the end of the world. I thought Boston would be next. I suppose it was - in a way - the end of the world as we all knew it to be. I woke my boyfriend up and we sat huddled together on the edge of the bed, clutching one another in fear and confusion. I remember seeing the towers fall, but not making any sense of the images. The news reporters were slow to explain what we were seeing... I think they were stunned too. "What is happening!?!" I kept saying, but there were no answers that I wanted to hear. 9.12.01 and the days that followed:


The silence in the skies was deafening, marked only by the occasional military jet circling overhead. This was real and happening to us all. Flags were everywhere, on cars, trucks, and homes. Some of my roommates didn't want to talk about it anymore, some couldn't stop talking about it. None of us knew how we were supposed to deal. We just kind of went on living. I went to a mall to be near people, but the few who were there were walking around like zombies. I guess we all wanted to feel a little normal, but everyone knew it wasn't working. I kept a votive candle on the front steps, in a jar. There wasn't much more I could do. 4.21.03


My husband and I were on our honeymoon in Washington D.C. No tours were being held, and most things were closed down to the public due to 9/11. We couldn't get very close to the White House, because of the extra rows of barriers in the street.


We saw a newly opened 9/11 exhibit in one of the museums on the National Mall. It was too sad, and we ran out of the building crying into the sunshine. We laid down on the green grass and took photos of ourselves. A honeymoon is supposed to be happy, but it was a struggle to stop thinking about the tragedy.


9.11.11


Ten year anniversary. Still feels just like it happened yesterday. I cannot see the images of the towers without crying for the people who were trapped on the upper floors. The people who jumped. The happy kids on rooftop tours, who had torturous last moments.


We are now used to the words "post 9/11" or "pre 9/11." We are now used to "security" searches at airports, taking our shoes off, and having our bags searched. We are used to seeing images of war with unseen foes, and hearing casualty reports, and deployment reports. We are used to the words "suspicious package" and "powdery substance." We know that you can't bring a bottle of water on a plane and your shampoo must be in a clear container. We are used to hearing about national security levels and the Department of Homeland Security.


Since 9/11, the police and fire departments come through the beginning of a parade to a standing ovation, instead of the end to people heading home.


As I looked at people today, going about their lives, I knew the events of past were in the backs of their minds. I felt connected to my fellow Americans. We all share a common bond. We all know where we were ten years ago today. We all have a story. What's yours?

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Changes

I've been hearing on the news lately that the post office is in real danger of being phased out. People are using social media, and email to communicate while the written word is becoming extinct. I suppose I can't stress enough the importance of passing on writing skills to our kids. I just had my son choose his own birthday invitations, then write addresses of his friends on all the envelopes. We went to the post office, where he chose fun (Pixar themed) stamps. We mailed them out. It was quite a bit of work for a five year old, but in the end, he was so proud and excited to think his mail would soon be in his friends' mailbox! What do you think? Are you okay with emails replacing paper letters or cards? I'm guilty of this... I'm worse, because I'd rather text chat than write an email! I think it's time to get serious now, because not only are jobs at risk, but the entire US mail system. Do you think fifty years from now, your great-great grandkids are going to be searching through an old box, and be amazed and excited when they find.... the hard drive to your computer? I'd rather find photos and letters. It's like, when I go to an art museum... I get very close to the paintings so I can see where the artist made his/her marks. Same thing with letters... Find an old letter... Look at the script. Someone's hand wrote that, held that piece of paper... So what's next? Get a piece of paper and write a letter to a friend. Don't think they'll write back? Pop a pre-stamped/addressed envelope in with your letter, so they have no excuse. Go to your local craft fair and buy some pretty notecards. Go to Etsy.com and buy some! I promise a card in the mailbox is worth a thousand emails.


xoxo Kelly

Friday, July 8, 2011

Hey Ice Cream!








Snail Mail

I'm a broken record when it comes to talking about the art of writing letters and sending cards. It's dying folks, but you can save it!! I GUARANTEE you, a friend opening their mailbox to a handwritten card is better than a Facebook "happy birthday" message.... I'm teaching my son to write thank you notes, and send written correspondence. He's five and knows not only about addressing envelopes and where the stamp goes, but that is a nice gesture to send a card to a friend! Today, he made a thank you "card" - as his cards end up being full page drawings with the sentiments written among the pictures. He also made a few notes and drawings to send to his little friend from school, who he has not seen in a while.


I had him tell me different things he wanted to say, and I wrote them out clearly on a sheet of paper. He chose which sentences to copy onto his cards, and they came out awesome! I could tell he was proud of himself, and he is SO excited to mail his creations out.


Take ten minutes and do this with your kids! They will learn invaluable lessons about gratitude, friendship, and the importance of handmade! Pass it on!!



Christmas in July

As much as I love painting and drawing, my new fun escape is playing around with stamps! Some, close to me, consider stamped cards to be "cheating," since they want me to hand draw everything I do. That's okay, stamping is just addicting and mindless fun for me. I love the beautiful paper, and the layering of pretty inks. It's a fun craft for me... You should try it too! It's a great stress reliever and you get nice cards out of it. ;) Today, my niece joined me in a Christmas in July stamping extravaganza!


We have a grand scheme to hand make all our cards this summer, to keep us out of the sun (damn Irish skin), and one step ahead of our Xmas rush. I am waaay to involved with my cards - layering ink and cut paper, layering stamps.





My niece likes to use ribbons, and simple cut shapes. In the time it took me to make three cards, she made fourteen! HA!


Hers are super cute. We just have different styles, and that's the fun of it... You can get as involved as you want!


Happy crafting!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Mobile Blogging!

I have been waiting for a mobile blogger that works with blogspot for a long time! This is a test post, and I hope it works well! Here goes! This is a link to my Etsy shop !


Let's give this test post a whirl.. Shall we?! Wheee....

Saturday, January 8, 2011