starshadow_rivaulx | While Time Zones Overlap

For a little while, the Philippines and the United States share the same date, if not the same time - we're 12 hours apart from New York. So as the sun settles down here, it rises over there, and people on both sides will stop to remember 9/11.

Six years ago, I was in Seoul, South Korea, with my parents. We were getting ready for our city tour; I was towel-drying my hair in front of the TV when the CNN announcer said something about smoke coming from the Twin Towers. I flipped up the towel, just in time to see the replay of the second jet ramming into one of the towers.

My parents had gone up to the top of the North Tower during a vacation to New York, and my cry of shock had Mom bewildered and Dad running out of the bathroom. All of us were transfixed at the sight of smoke coming from the buildings...and then my parents, both of them survivors of the horrors of war, looked at each other with dismay in their eyes. Mama went pale, Daddy swore; and I - all I could think of was my husband at home, alone! *He* was having a major case of the jitters, realizing, as we did, that the US military base in Seoul was right in the heart of town, and a mere missile strike away from North Korea (remember, no one knew who to call the perps at that moment in time).

I can truthfully say that the world all but stopped turning in Seoul that day. Everywhere we went, TV and radio were reporting live out of New York. People eating lunch just froze if their eyes caught footage on the restaurant TVs. No one could think of anything else, no one wanted to talk of anything else. The most nerve-wracking thing was to see the scrolling message on the bottom of the only English channel available, from the military base, calling in all personnel and dependents.

I called home after our city tour ended, and husband's first words were - "Come home. Please. Now." His second words, as more news came out - "May as well finish the tour, it's just Taiwan left, then you're home safe. Be careful."

Oh, the joys of air travel on 9/13! ::shudder:: Then while we were in Taiwan, typhoon Nala hit - but that's another blog altogether!

Six years, a lot of blood and tears and sacrifice later. 'Nuff said. My mom tears up when she reads about the soldiers in Iraq - the sister of men who fought in war, she understands the hardships they go through; and wails at how young they all are, to be out there in harm's way. Dad watches the politics in Washington and swears a blue streak at some of the statements coming out of the Bush government.

And I...after watching the latest edition of AC360, find myself praying for the safety of the press corps. Not just my particular favorites from CNN, but the whole boodle of them, regardless of affiliation. Bombs and bullets don't care who they're working for, and I hope all of them stay safe.

~8~

In happier news, Ramon was well enough to toddle about the Mall of Asia with me this afternoon. We passed by the travel agency to get Ma's passport with the new issue date. Then off to the MOA to pay a credit card bill, get myself a new hair dryer and a roller brush (oy vey, I'm turning *girly*!!!!), pick up groceries. And in-between, a heavy snack at KFC, refill Ramon's prescriptions at Watson's (so many shiny things!) and poke through the cut-price book sale in National.

Home before six, bearing half a roast duck for dinner. Gave Ramon a baby aspirin when he said his heart felt "funny", along with the rest of his heart medicines. He's taken some rice porridge, and is resting comfortably. I think he may have overdid it with the walking, seeing as how he's been pretty much off his feet these several days. He's looking good, and feeling all right - so a good night's sleep will do wonders, I hope. I've got to call his cardio and ask if the man can take his baby aspirins every other day instead of every day, the better to avoid another gastritis attack.

Tomorrow, we're planning to visit the barangay dentist, the alterations shop for two pairs of my pants, and hopefully drop off some papers at my bank.

Ok...TV is starting with the 9/11 remembrances. I think this is where I came in - time to check the rest of the LJ_Friends.