Though already aware of my predisposition to military uniforms, I found myself today, yet again, impressed. There’s just something about the clean, pressed, orderly appearance required and presented by exacting specifications. It’s the discipline, really, I suppose. Now, when you put a few, or better, a couple hundred uniforms in the same place, now, well, then we are talking! I realize that I am completely romanticizing [and overlooking the downsides of a career which requires one’s life to be willingly sacrificed] but they don’t seem to mind :~) Where exactly was I?, you might ask ~ at the Navy Football game vs. Southern Georgia. Now I love football, and I love uniforms, so what better than the two together, right? Well, let’s add in a Hornet fly over, for good measure, complimentary seats, great company, and pleasant weather. I hope it was the first of many games I get to attend while here in Annapolis. [Army vs. Navy in PA, anyone?!]
Jennifer M. Lind, All Rights Reserved
Jennifer M. Lind, All Rights Reserved
Jennifer M. Lind, All Rights Reserved
Jennifer M. Lind, All Rights Reserved
Jennifer M. Lind, All Rights Reserved
Jennifer M. Lind, All Rights Reserved
Jennifer M. Lind, All Rights Reserved
While enjoying myself, a recurring thought kept haunting my brain, that of the anniversary of 9/11. And what I continually find surprising is how easy it is to forget. Especially surprising is my own ability to forget that we are at war, even while surrounded by dress whites. My surprising neglect of the thought that these young men and women may die, for me.
I would call the result of 9/11″Being Awake”. There was a shared concern for others’ well-being. Eye contact was made, smiles were exchanged, and friendly hellos were offered in the grocery store. I think we acted more like humans in the days closely following 9/11 than any other time I can remember. I think people were finally looking, seeing, perhaps for the first time, what and who is around them.
No matter what one may think of it we are a Nation at war. And yet we have never been so complacent in our day-to-day living as we are now. [I sincerely think that ration tickets would help…]
True. We will never forget 9/11 as a historical event. But we have clearly forgotten what we vowed, the difference it would make.
The truth is that our world is such that we can ignore it. We can ignore the person in the room with us. Never meet our next door neighbour. Never once say hello to our mailman. Never know about a country’s drought. Never feel the avoidable loss of third-world diseases. We withdraw into our own daily existence, and stay there, content to move from moment to moment, blind, deaf, and numb. I, for one, am guilty of forgetting.
For the record, Navy won. Afterwards I folded laundry and ironed shirts for my host family. Later, I headed out to a dance at my school, hoping for just a few good spins, and then to return home at a reasonable time to sleep. I was pleasantly surprised with several stellar dances and some great conversation, to boot.
Quite fortuitously, I met a journalist, who has for the past 10 years made his living by writing articles, traveling, and taking pictures for publications across the spectrum. It started with Aviation, he told me, and runs everywhere from Dept. of Defense to Car shows to Watches. He is about to leave to Paris, for two weeks, on VW’s dime for a car show. That’s right, you read that correctly. Paris. Oh, and did I mention he is a published author? Yeah. Now, what I find especially fantastic is that his time is completely self-directed, and motivated by his own personal interests. Think David Macaulay, trained architect and artist extraordinaire, aka, personal childhood, er, “lifehood” hero.
The current answer when asked regarding my post-graduation plans is International Law. But while Justice and the problems surrounding our pursuit, or denial of it, fascinate me, as my possible 9-5 it is not what I feel is my passion [ok, so lawyers work way beyond a weekly 40]. And I fully know that life is too short to devote even part of my life to something I am not wholeheartedly passionate about. Yes, my choices are and will be constrained by financial obligations… but isn’t there a better way?
I want to do Grad-school in Europe and lo and behold, another of the dancers that I met, upon mention of this desire, informed me that one of his buds is in Amsterdam, on a full tuition grant (a pretty common thing for schools abroad) with full stipend, and a promise of the equivalent of $50K upon completing his PhD in THEOLOGY, of all things. HELLO. Sign me up! I hope it is an actual viable option. You can bet I will be doing some research!
What I really want to do, and sheepishly admit with a grin, sounds a lot like retirement: Travel, take pictures, write, meet interesting people, and eat good food. [Oh, and dance, but that’s a given :~) ]
Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t compromise. And don’t forget.