How the WTC Changed my life

FreeRepublic.com ^ | 12/10/2002 | Long Cut

[sneakers]

Thanks for that beautiful post. Sitting here sniffling. I thank God that my grandparents chose to come here from the old country.

[Long Cut]

Late in the day on Black Tuesday, after the fall of the Towers and the newsies were speculating about the death toll (some said it could go as high as 50,000), Mrs. Cut, her face still wet from tears, silently got up, and walked around our apartment, covering up every mirror in the house. It was her way of showing rewspect for the dead. Though I never had heard of the practice, seeing her do that only made my rage fire hotter. I swear, I'll move Heaven and Hell and Earth before I EVER see her that distraught again.

[Long Cut]

"I thank God that my grandparents chose to come here from the old country. "

Me, too. My Grandfather got off a boat at Ellis in 1914. He was born in Italy in 1898, and died in America 93 years later, while of all things, building a stone wall. He was a landscaper in New York, for 60 years.

He married my grandmother around 1920. She was from the Black Forest area of Germany, complete with fire-colored hair and bright, grey eyes. She passed in 1972.

NEITHER ever referred tothemselves as ANYTHING other than Americans.

[jmc813]

then the world's tallest buildings (or so Pop said...)

I may be mistaken, but it is quite possible that in 1978 they were the tallest buildings in the world. Great story nonetheless.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for the heads up to this wonderful article!

[TPartyType]

bump

[Long Cut]

Amazing, isn't it? My father was just trying to give me and my Mom a fun day in Manhatten, which I'd never been to before.

He wound up giving me my Heritage. I truly hope I can do something like that for my own children, if we have any.

[radu]

I've heard of the practice of covering mirrors but didn't know people still did it. I can't remember what country that originated in.

From the moment I saw the events on tv that day, I began taping, and my VCR ran non-stop for a month. I still tape anything pertaining to the war on terror when I see it (tape #231 is in ready to roll at a moment's notitice right now. These are 8-hour tapes.). I look forward to taping all h*ll breaking loose on those !#/*\'s. For them, I'll never have forgiveness. Never!

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I never had heard of the practice..."

Your wife was sitting Shiva for the souls of the dead.

Sitting Shiva for the murdered sons and daughters of our own flesh, and our own blood.

Maybe even for a little part of this Nation.

What a wonderful thing it was that she did.

[prognostigaator]

America is a land of success stories....may your love for America never diminish..

Beatiful America, may God continue to shed His grace on this nation.

[Long Cut]

Thank you. Mrs. Cut is quite a wonderful woman. I was truly blessed to meet her.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Judaism
Belief about death
Jews believe death in this life will eventually lead to resurrection in a world to come.

Funeral practices
The dead are buried as soon as possible. The body is washed to purify it, dressed in a plain linen shroud. The casket, a plain wooden coffin, remains closed after the body is dressed. The body is watched over from time of death till burial, as a sign of respect. The kaddish, a prayer in honor of the dead, is said.

Mourning rituals
There is an intense seven-day mourning period, called shiva, following the burial. Mourners traditionally rent their garments as a symbol of grief. Today, people often wear a black ribbon instead of tearing their clothes. Mourners also cover mirrors, sit on low stools, and avoid wearing leather. The full mourning period lasts a year, after which mourners observe the dead's yahrzeit, or yearly anniversary of the death.

[Long Cut]

Good night, all. Duty calls, EARLY tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by, and adding your stories and words to this.

Thank YOU, Mr. Null, for posting it.

[Long Cut]

That's interesting, Luis. Especially since Mrs. Cut's family all come from Scotland. I wonder where she picked it up.

For obvious reasons, I didn't press it that day.

[IncPen]

...lit candles at St. Patrick's Cathedral for his cousin (Viet Nam, 1969) and his late grandmother...

My cousin Barry gave his life this day in Vietnam, 12/10/1969.

A couple of months ago I came across a page on FR that allowed a search for KIA from the war. I found a page dedicated to my cousin, and subesquent emails with someone listed as a link on his memorial page led me to find out that a man who'd buried his mother in an adjacent plot has been trimming his grave and leaving flowers and flags for a number of years. I was moved by this respect for a total stranger, whom he only knew in death.

Thanks for posting this.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Hey!

I wonder if the Scots did something similar.

[ValerieUSA]

thank you nully and long cut.

[Michael2001]

Bump