Last Monday was the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks. Never forget, and all that.
I find it interesting how much we romanticize the days immediately following that Tuesday.
“We were united as a country.”
“We were nicer to people.”
“Everyone loved each other.”
But did they? Were we?
There’s a post I often share about the fleet of boats and ships that ferried thousands of people off the island that day, and it’s heartwarming and touching. This video details the effort.
But at the same time, you had people getting assaulted because they looked like Muslims.
The Japanese-American community certainly sympathized with the Muslim community. They knew what it could look like when the government responded in anger.
Are we safer now than we were on September 10th?
Safer from what? From whom?
Are we really better off with the behemoth that is the Department of Homeland Security?
Anyway.
Moving On Up
I spent most of Saturday helping Number Two Son and his girlfriend move into their new house. I’m proud of him for being able to do this. It’s a nice 3/2 starter in an okay neighborhood. It’s got a nice fenced yard, too, and it’s so much bigger than their old apartment.
Difficult Conversations
As we’re getting closer to our Hawaii trip, I’m reviewing my “Stuff You Need To Know” document and making some long-needed updates. The biggest update revolved around my genealogy work, letting the kids know where everything is and what I’d like them to do with it.
We’re also taking a look at our Revocable Trust document, updating it as needed, and having a conversation to remind the kids where it is and what it does.
I don’t think either one of us is worried about anything bad happening on this trip. But we’re going to be gone for a week and we’re making two long flights over water. Plus, it’s always a good thing to review your estate documents every so often.
Reading
I’ve written before about how human trafficking survivors want to cover their brands, to help remove painful memories of a horrible time in their lives.
I recently read a similar piece from eight years ago at HuffPo, This Artist Is Changing the Lives of Domestic Violence Survivors, One Tattoo at a Time. Flavia Carvalho, a Brazilian tattoo artist, saw a need to help domestic violence survivors in her country erase the painful memories of abuse. She creates tattoos that overwrite the scars and body damage they’ve suffered, and she does the work for free. I think it’s amazing, and I hope in the ensuing years she’s found other artists to work with her.
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