The Shoe Story ~ Obsidian Kitten

I found a Dona Nobis Pacem post this evening that touched me to the core.
It was written by a new peace blogger named Obsidian Kitten from Michigan. Kitten describes herself as Southern Gothic and aspiring farmess:- I would describe her as insightful and well-versed in what's important.

"What You've Got Is What You've Got to Give" is about a walk toward the river on the morning of September 11, 2001 and how that walk changed her view of humanity's wherewithal in the face of chaos. "Mr. O'Kitten was moments away from getting on the World Trade Center train from Hoboken to go to school when the first plane hit," she writes, " and watched the second plane strike from the Hudson River's edge--a distance of perhaps a mile." I've often wondered about the long-reaching psychological ramifications of being so close to that hell; I watched the second plane hit "live" 500 miles away and was bothered with nightmares for six weeks - I can only imagine what it would have been like to taste and smell the smoke, as Mr. O'Kitten surely did. And others, like a friend of mine in Manhattan who also ran toward the river and my boyfriend's daughter who was about the same distance away as Obsidian's Mr. O'Kitten. We often hear and see images of the escaping throngs in billowing white clouds. What we don't hear as much about are the countless ordinary citizens like Heather; or my friend, Mark, who calmly made his way out of the city toward the river. Another musician friend of mine in Manhattan, walked for hours to return home that evening to check on his wife.

This story particularly struck a nerve today because it reminded me of the post that began Dona Nobis Pacem; not my grandfather's story (that confirmation clearly came later), but the first time I tossed out the idea of scrawling our names on spinning globes on October 12, 2006. I'd seen news footage of that small plane in New York accidentally hitting the side of a high-rise building -
which brought back memories for many people. On that same day, the news had been cruelly full of war-filled words from North Korea as well; hence, I was compelled to write the post that spawned an unbelievable response of bloggers wanting to grab a peace globe and toss it into the cyberspace.

The reward of peace globes for me is just what happened tonight.
There was a man in New York City that day whom you'll meet through Kitten's story. He reminds me of all of you.

You gave your time and talents to come together yesterday for a dream and a promise; to stop and think - at least for a while - about why we choose to blog for peace. You also, inadvertently, helped passersby, who stumbled across your blog street, sometimes covered with soot and ashes, to make it safely home - to a new place of revelation and perspective.

It was "what you had to give."

Don't cheat yourself by neglecting to read the moving comments left by said passersby. They - you - by recording candid words, further add to the human salvation known as kindness.

Thank you Obsidian Kitten and Mr. O'Kitten, for sharing your story. I solely credit Obsidian for writing it in an inspirational Dona Nobis Pacem post June 6, 2007.
Please take the time to read it by following this link.

I promise it will lift your spirit.