The day before yesterday my back went out on me. I did nothing remarkable to initiate the fall-out, just stepped out of the shower...it happens from time to time when a person has a chronic condition. I had an appointment at my area VA hospital, which is a fairly regular part of my life these days. It made for a very uncomfortable trip, especially that I had my regular dialysis session directly afterward. So, U see, I had to sit for the 65 mi. drive to my VA Hospital, then lay on my aching butt (low back, discs L2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, C1-2) for ultrasound on internal organs (about an hour all together), then drive back home where my dialysis treatment is 4 hrs a day, 3 days a week (and just happens to be on 9-11). Today, I realize what led up to my back falling out at this particular time...it was the anniversary date of 9-11-2001. I was in a classroom at our community college when the alarm went off and the security folks came around evacuating the campus. Standard protocol, though it wasnt handled very well. The twin towers event enacted a nationwide response to a potential terrorist attack, and public facilities respond in accordance with such a threat. This is how those of us attending school that day found out about it. I was in the process of my vocational rehabilitation after my term of military service during that time. Years later, I came to work for the VA as a rehabilitation counselor. During my term of service there I counseled quite a few Vets who were with units who responded to the call from the Pentagon on 9-11-2001. Of course I cant give details about that, though what rang through it all was that feeling of HELPLESSNESS. Not being able to do anything but stand by and listen. How I wanted to be able to do something...ANYTHING!!! That psychological response has never left me. Counseling Veterans as a career is not for everyone. And, over the years I worked there Ive experienced such a rich engagement with what it is that troubles Vets. I share it, I live it, I understand it very well. That has never removed me from the effects it has on the psychological aspect of those experiences. There are specific themes which drive responses to historical trauma within an individuals psyche. That is why anniversary dates have a tendency to lend power to the psychological responses many Vets experience over time, even though it is not happening to them today. When an event such as The Twin Towers happens on National soil, it doesnt just effect individuals...it rings out loudly throughout the Nation. I try to remind myself that this kind of thing happens nearly every day throughout the World on other Nationalists soil. It has such an impact here, at home, because it is rare and unseen, unless you were right there. The incident at The Twin Towers on 9-11-2001 changed the perspective of American society forever. Thats what I remember most, as a whole. We are no longer separate from the rest of the World. Americans stand to suffer such atrocities as every other country on this planet. I also remember why I joined the military, the VA, as well as work Ive done on a public level. I chose to serve my people. In every capacity that I have done so, I have always found corruption from within. Its easy to look for a culprit who is out there somewhere. Its much more difficult to detect corruptors who reside within. This I will never forget.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:39:02 +0000
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