Where Were You on 9/11/2001?

Twenty five years ago I’d driven 548 miles from Pittsburgh to Rockford, Illinois on September 10th. My sister flew home to New York City from Chicago that same day. We couldn’t plan an overlap although I’d asked if she could wait and fly back the 11th. So I was asleep in my father’s room at the Wesley Willows Assisted Living as he was in the hospital with surgery from a broken foot. My cousin Christopher called on my dad’s phone. The old desk phone kind. Time is Central, an hour earlier than NY. He informed me that the World Trade Center had been attacked. It was only when I got to the hospital in my father’s room and the televisions were on everywhere. It took time to comprehend the magnitude of destruction and loss of human life.

My sister Mary photographed this 9/11 Cross a Symbol of Hope. It was a blog post in September 2020.

It’s “located near St. Paul’s Chapel of Trinity Church near the 9/11 memorial. This statute represents the wreckage of the twin towers forming a cross from the aftermath of 9/11. The original cross was moved in the 9/11 Museum. This cross was sculpted by Jon Krawczyk. Cardinal Egan picked him to sculpt the new cross.”

There’s a 35 page metal. book at the base with all the victims’ names inscribed

2011 blog post of FDNY Fire Engine in the Fire House across the street

My sister shared this 2024view from her West Village apartment window tonight 9/11. The moon and the memorial tribute beams of light. You’d have to be in NJ to see both streams.
2025 view
A white rose is placed on the name of a victim on their birthday

Hard at Work

Carrying the empty water bottles. Grandson Ananda (3 in November) uses them as a drum until we take them to get credit for new water.

Happy Birthday to my Sister

Our mother holding baby Mary
Mary with nephew Matthew (May 2026)

September 3, 1912

The day Marian Van Sickle was born in Durand, Illinois.

My eldest son Mark told me on his last visit home that we’re all just a generation or two away from being forgotten. I’ve been thinking about that fact and wanted to remember my Mother on the anniversary of her birth.

John, Robert and Marian
I still have her doll Maybelle

The teacher in a one room school house
August 28, 1939
1942
1974
1984

Our mother had her 88th birthday in a Rockford Illinois hospital and passed away 6 days later on September 9, 2000.

Spotted by my Grandson (2 1/2) so I Photographed it

Look he said A rainbow! We were at a Toy Lending Library Play place in a church basement.

The windows were covered in translucent contact paper so the rainbow is muted.

Shanti Found a Praying Mantis

The deer come in the night and eat the lilies. They missed one. How Shanti (6) saw the praying mantis astounds me because it looked so much like the color of the lily stem.

Twenty-one on the 21st of August

Grandson Michael celebrates his Golden Birthday.

May your birthday be the start of a happy new year!

Love, Froo

My most recent photo of Michael August 1st

Charlie and I wondered what vehicle filled up before us

I was bringing my grandson Charlie back to Pittsburgh from Ohio for a visit. Charlie got out of the car as he said he likes the smell of gasoline which was a surprise. Me? not so much. I especially don’t like the smell on my hands after filling the tank.

The total on the pump seemed astronomical. we wondered who filled up before us!

Zanesville Ohio BP Station

August 16, 2021

Grandson Jack came for a visit in 2021 and we drove up to Mercer County. It was a rainy summer day but he fed a few animals, right from the car’s passenger side. We visited Keystone Safari.

I love the ostrich photo. I’d find stray food pellets under that seat months later, even after I’d vacuumed.

Not Exactly a Lap Dog

Oscar doesn’t know it, though.