Every year, I tell myself it doesn't really bother me.
Then, as I do every other day, I check the local NYC news websites.
There they are. The pictures and words that changed our country and my home forever.
Anyone who has spent any time with Kris and I, more often just me, knows that I love to force "cop stories" out of Kris. Sometimes she'll oblige. I guess I force them out of her for two reasons.
First, they are are really freakin' cool. Second, they demonstrate the mettle that is Kris. A truly remarkable person. It takes stories like she has lived as a police officer, to make her remarkable qualities tangible to someone who otherwise doesn't know her as well as I do.
Among everything else that September 11th means to the world, I remember it as making my wife sad.
The early morning found Kris and I at home. Kris had been scheduled to work at her Precinct.
The 9th, also known as the "Fighting shithouse", less than 3 miles from the World Trade Center. The night before, another officer she worked with needed to switch things up. This resulted in her being at home around 9am.
We both were in the bedroom when it happened. We hugged each other intensely for a good amount of time.
Kris then went to the closet, got out as many bags as she could carry, and started packing.
I had shared my embrace with her because I was glad she was home and alive. There was something else in her embrace of me. Tears poured down her face as she slammed and threw clothing, ammo, and riot gear into her bags. All at once, she cried and screamed "That building was full of cops!"
I'll never forget it.
Tonight, as this came back into my mind, I went in search of a "buried treasure".
Kris put together a photo album detailing a few (as if they all weren't) of the larger than life events that spanned her time on the job. Included are letters Kris exchanged with students and reporters from across the country. Seen here are various newspaper headlines stemming from high profile cases Kris was a part of.
I've done my best to make them viewable in this format. (Click for larger view)
Hey Aiden, when the capital of the world was hurting, they called your Mom and her friends to save it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
Thanks babe. From the moment I ran down 20th Street to tell you I passed the NYPD physical till the day I retired, you have been so supportive! I just realized that almost every single one- if not all- of my life's best and worst moments found you by my side.
Thank you, thank you...THANK YOU
Thanks for being there, Kris, to work on the pile with dignity and compassion. You were awesome then and you still are. From New York, to Lancaster, to Philadelphia in a week, you make us proud!
Wow Mom,
That got to me.
Thank you
Hey Kris,
I've wanted to tell that story, bout 20th street so many times.
I don't think I could do it justice.
Of course you could do it justice- you were there! Don't leave out the part about the pizza- that's my favorite.
kris
i cant put into words that could tell you just how proud dad and i of you.........yes from the moment you told us you wanted to be a police officer i was scared. i have never prayed for you harder than those 5 yrs. i would wake up and look at the clock if it was when u were on duty.. or when u were on your way to work...... or on the way home.......i was praying....i always thanked God when i got to talk to u because i knew that God had kept u safe.......and that day when the towers came down and i couldnt reach u it was so scary. when i finally got to talk to u it was a feeling that has no words. kris we are so unbeliveable proud of you. you put every ounce of energy into everything u do. now running a marathon. i cant wait till aj is old enough so i can tell him how great his mama is. we love u kirs and always will just in case u every wondered mom and dad xoxo
I LOVE Kris' stories! She is so bad ass, I'm glad I'm on her good side :-)
God Bless You and all of NYC finest!
Great post. Glad to have survived through that all with you guys.
Post a Comment