Auchtoon!9/11 Kindergarten…
Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, September 3, 2007
Not to go all Facebook and MySpace on you here, but my 44th birthday was September 10th. (You could celebrate this event by adding a comment to this blog entry — something like “gr8 post!” or “urkewl” or “bff!!!” — and then adding me to your list of friends. If I get enough friends, I think maybe I get a coupon for a small flurry at Dairy Queen. Actually, I’m not exactly sure how these new social networking things work, but from what I can see it starts with meta-relationships and corporate tie-ins and ends with identity theft and tears. xlnt!)
I mention this because while my 44th anniversary of birth was very special thanks to my family, the number itself was unremarkable. I mean, in general, who looks forward to, basks within, or always cherishes their 44th because of the number? Not many. So it was with this year’s sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th. It just sort of felt, well, blah.
What could one say six years hence to evoke a special feeling, to commemorate the tragedy in a special way? I mean, six is just six. Nothing special there. And after all these years of politicians trying to alternately cajole and beat 9/11 emotions out of us, I just felt tired about the whole thing. (Good news: Dick Cheney is popping by Grand Rapids tomorrow to re-serve some “stay the course” crappola, so that should give me some new energy.) But then, after giving up on a sixth anniversary idea, I had to take care of some new school year stuff — and the comic came to me.
cul8r!!!!!
Kris said,
September 13, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Hey –
Funny that you mentioned kindergarten as that is how old Adam was in 2001so we certainly didn’t inundate him with details when it happened. He was recently recounting Pearl Harbor and saying how it was the only attack on US soil and I reminded him of 9-11. He looked confused and said he thought that happened in another country. Geez – guess we have some catch-up to do and is 9-11 in the history curriculum for schools yet? Back in the day, text books and maps were circa 1960 (especially at parochial schools) but today with the fancy internet and all, you’d think curriculum would be up to the minute. Very relevant comic though because I have seen more half-staff flags than ever lately and if it’s not a nationally significant date or event, I just imagine another soldier died. Sad.
And I need to brush up on my txt msg shorthand if I hope to be able to communicate in the future!!
Mike said,
September 13, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
Luck of the draw when I hired into Inalfa got me my 0911 phone extension. I commemorate 9/11 each year by coming up with a response to those that are impressed by my phone number.
This year I’ve moved away from the polite, wise and reverant “Yes, that tragedy is part of my life every day in yet another way.” to the bitterly sarcastic “At least you won’t forget MY number! Yuck, yuck, yuck.”
I’m sure Fox “News” is to blame for my souring attitude. I just have to figure out how that happened without watching it…
John said,
September 14, 2007 @ 10:32 am
With all that Robert Murdoch owns I’m sure you’re watching Fox something without you realizing it….