Nine/Eleven

A few weeks ago I was reading Greenleigh a bedtime story and began to think about all the people who read to me when I was little.  My mom was great about reading books to me every night, but hands down the best story-teller was my elementary school librarian, Mrs. Angell.  I remember the anticipation and excitement of the special days when it was our class’ turn to go to the library.  We would get there and immediately sit down in the reading area.  Mrs. Angell would then start reading all of the books she had selected just for us.

There was something about the way she presented the book that made it come alive.  She had a special way of reading that made you want to know what the next page would hold.  After storytime was over, we could all search the library for our very own book to take home.  Once we selected a book, we went to the check out counter where Mrs. Angell would greet us with tons of other suggestions, depending on what we had chosen.  She was thoughtful, patient, and kind.  She was an amazing educator who touched my life.

As I was reading the book to Greenleigh that night I was thrilled to see that she was grabbing the pages and trying to peek at what was on the next page.  I wondered to myself if I was doing as good a job as Mrs. Angell did when I was little.  Did I have the same changes in tone?  Did I have the same enthusiasm in the words I was saying?  I hoped so.

Like most others of my generation, I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news on September 11, 2001.  I also remember exactly where I was when I found out that Mrs. Lynn Angell was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, which hit the North Tower.  As I watched the tributes on television today it brought back all of the emotions of that day ten years ago.  I wondered how I was going to explain September 11th to Greenleigh when she asks one day.  The thought that she will probably first learn about it from a book boggles my mind.  But what will I say to her?  How will I, as a parent, explain the unexplainable?

I think this is what I’ve decided.  I will share all the feelings I felt that day – shock, chaos, anger, fear, sadness – but also share the sense of unity that followed.  The fact that people helped other people that day, for no other reason that it was the right thing to do.  That for months after American flags flew everywhere you looked.  The terrorists took our buildings that day, but they did not win.

Today as we remembered all those that died that September day ten years ago, we went to the bookstore to purchase a few extra books for Greenleigh’s growing library.  I could think of no better way to honor Mrs. Angell’s memory.  I truly hope that Greenleigh is blessed with an educator of her caliber.

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