We Live We Love

It has been too long since I have set down to write or look at my photos. On 9/11, however, my family was away and I took time to look over some of my photographs while listening to music via computer. Technology truly blesses lovers of music, art, and many other things. What a tool for learning, reminiscing, and sharing.

9/11 closely touched me as it did many people, and it has caused me to suffer many emotions. Today, however, my focus was on love and mostly on love between fathers and sons. As I drove my youngest son to school this morning, we listened to John Vigiano, Sr. on NPR’s Morning Edition. Some of you may know of Mr. Vigiano and his sons through the Academy Award winning film, Twin Towers. On 9/11/2001, John, Jr. served as a New York firefighter and Joe Vigiano served as a New York policeman. Both were killed during the attack.

As my young son set beside me, Mr. Vigiano proudly told of his sons’ career paths (Mr. Vigiano also served the City as a firefighter) and his last conversations with his sons. During the afternoon of September 10, 2001, Mr. Vigiano talked with John, Jr. and they closed the call by telling each other “I love you.” After the attack on 9/11, Mr. Vigiano talked with his son Joe and their last words were also “I love you.” As we pulled up to the school, my son paused and listened as Mr. Viagiano’s reflected, “"I don't have any could've, should've or would'ves. I wouldn't have changed anything. It's not many people that the last words they said to their son or daughter was 'I love you.' "

It was not my intent to come home and write about 9/11, but as I looked through my pictures, I saw the one above taken of my son in front of the Trade Center shortly before 9/11. Fate also had me listening to Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. The youtube video I fortuitously watched included Harry’s wife and son telling of his untimely death at an early age and Josh (his son) being the inspiration for the song. It was touching to hear Josh (who looks like his father) explain how people are always wanting to get close to him and tell of the huge impact his father’s singing made in their lives. You can see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etundhQa724&feature=related

Finally, as I pushed in my WowHits 2007 CD in the car, I was greeted by Superchick’s We Live. The lyrics are as follows:

There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost a son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be their last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
So she could say she loved him one more time
And hold him tight
But with life we never know

When we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend?

Chorus:
We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
Today we remember to live and to love
We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
Today we remember to live and to love

There is a man who waits for the tests
To see if the cancer has spread yet
And now he asks, "So why did I wait to live till it was time to die?"
If I could have the time back how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we are meant to do

Chorus

Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day is a gift somehow, someway
So get our heads up out of the darkness
And spark this new mindset and start to live life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy is a reminder to take off the blinders
And wake up and live the life we're supposed to take up
Moving forward with all our heads up cuz life is worth living

Chorus (to fade)

You can do the lyrics justice by listening to the song from the Beauty from Pain cd at http://www.superchickonline.com/music_bfp.php

Thank you Christ; Superchick; John, Sr.; Harry; Joshua Chapin; Dad and my sons. Thank you for your love, words, music and the gift of loving, living and forgiving.