Happy 34th Birthday To My Son On 9/11
Today is my son's 34th birthday, so Happy Birthday Matt! It's also the 13th anniversary of 9/11, which took place on his 21st birthday.
I can't imagine how he felt, looking forward to what is a "once in a lifetime" event for anyone, all geared up to going out with his mates after work to celebrate, and then the news fills up with those terrible events in New York, Washington and Philadelphia, and it just sucks every happy feeling out of you.
It was especially hard for me at the time, as I was living in Indiana while he was in the UK, so not only could I not be there with him on that special day, it was really hard to call him too, since all the phone lines were jammed, and it was nigh on impossible to make an international call.
Fortunately he has managed to sail through that dark day and is a son that any Dad would be proud of. He is now happily married and my first grandchild is 2 1/2 years old, and very much like his Dad in many ways.
So much for me to think about on this day that is special for my son, but which also holds so many sad memories for me.
Image Credit » Copyright Tony Payne 2014
Comments
suffolkjason wrote on September 11, 2014, 8:44 AM
Congrats to you and your son!
Feisty56 wrote on September 11, 2014, 9:10 AM
Happy Birthday Matt! Thankfully Matt and your family came through that dark day 13 years ago still whole and a bit wiser.
MegL wrote on September 11, 2014, 9:54 AM
Happy birthday, Matt. Hope you never have another birthday like that one!
poddys wrote on September 11, 2014, 10:35 AM
Thanks. Hopefully he is having a good day. I never know what days (or nights) he is working because of his job, so it's usually a case of leaving messages and waiting for a call back.
poddys wrote on September 11, 2014, 10:36 AM
I think it taught him a lot, and these days he is in the police and working on security.
tinamarie wrote on September 11, 2014, 11:10 AM
poddys - Happy Birthday to your son and congrats to you as a father.
poddys wrote on September 11, 2014, 11:11 AM
I second that, and I hope none of us have a birthday that gets spoiled by a tragedy like that.
Mine is coming up too just a month from today, but I'm not looking forward to it :(
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on September 11, 2014, 11:54 AM
Happy birthday to your son. It's so sad that all those with birthdays on September 11 had, and continue to have, so much of the celebratory atmosphere of their birthday stolen from them.
LarrySells wrote on September 11, 2014, 3:30 PM
Happy Birthday Mat. Let say this in a poem
Don't look back and see your suffering,
instead look forward and see your love
and healing. Families bond
together during hardships
and celebrate life and good times.
Love comes from your soul
and from your family members' souls.
Larry Sells
poddys wrote on September 11, 2014, 4:50 PM
Thanks Larry, very nice.
LarrySells wrote on September 11, 2014, 8:03 PM
Anytime man. you deserve it. It's your birthday. It comes once a year. Life is a celebration look how far you have come. You have a family that loves you.
You have friends that love you. They love you every second of your life. It's a special gift. Don't lose sight of that. Love heals.
poddys wrote on September 12, 2014, 2:08 AM
Love certainly can heal. Unfortunately it can also rip you apart, but that's another story...
I spoke to my son last night, he was at the end of a week away in a quiet part of England with no internet and no cell phone service, so nice and relaxing and away from the buzz of the usual working day. I think he and his wife and my grandson had a good time, renting bikes and going off riding through the forest, and just relaxing.
BarbRad wrote on September 12, 2014, 3:19 AM
It must be very strange for your son to always have that memory associated with his birthday. But how wonderful to have a son and grandson you can be proud of.
bestwriter wrote on September 12, 2014, 9:24 AM
What a beautiful story. I am touched. All's well that ends well.
DorothyGale wrote on September 16, 2014, 1:08 PM
Hope he had a great birthday! I've always felt bad for those whose birthday or anniversary fell on Sep 11.