Above it all... - a photo on Flickriver

Above it all...

            It seems as though today I have been surrounded by the mottos of "never forget," and "we will remember."    While true that we should not forget, and we should remember the events of that day, it strikes me as a bit odd that we are so hell bent on putting so much effort into not only remember something so tragic, but focusing on the most tragic elements of it.   It seems to stand in contrast to the fact the we spend so little time trying to remember those special times.... those times when we were happiest.    Those we take for granted.  Then, something tragic comes along, and they seem to not even matter any more 

I understand the reasons for remembering 9/11.  And I respect that.  But It almost seems as if we have a habbit of racing past those happy days to make a bold effort to embrace the tragedies in our lives.  Shouldn't we at least half, or even a quarter, of the effort we put into something like 9/11, and apply that towards those happiest of moments?  

Its just an observation that leapt out at me over the past few days. 

So today, remember 9/11.  But I would say to make a point of setting some day aside in the future, and use that day to focus on all of those happiest moments. And just as we seek to understand why 9/11 effects us so much.  Also seek to understand why those happiest of moments left their mark as well.  

Gee....  Balance?  how does it work? :-)

So this is a recent time when I was happiest. Standing above the world, yet below the universe.   
There is just something about experiencing the night sky.  There are so many elements.  There are so many possibilities.   You realize how alone you are in the universe.  You realize how little you actually matter in the grand sceme of things.  
And yet, with a simple camera, I can make my mark, take control, and capture the the universe as it is at that moment. 

After all..
who knew that you could be so far away, yet so close to civilization.  

 Even 7200' up, and 50-75 miles away, I could watch as light flickered and moved around.  All the while, I was almost completely alone... except for the ranger sleeping quietly in the lookout.

Taken on: September 11, 2011

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