September 10, 2021 — All the heart-wrenching stories being told of 9/11 are so moving, aren’t they? As a friend summed up yesterday, “So hard to watch, and yet so important to.”
One I find especially touching is that of Joseph Pfeifer, the first NYFD fire chief to reach the Twin Towers. In National Geographic’s documentary 9/11: One Day in America, we hear this unflappable man relive that horrific day, including the part where he sadly says he sent his own firefighter brother, Lieutenant Kevin with Engine 33, up the stairs of the north tower, from which he never returned.
Later, in episode six around 35 minutes in, we hear him somberly describe Super Bowl Sunday 2002, “I was called to the site and they wouldn’t tell me why,” we watch him say, “but I knew why …
“It was one of the saddest moments, or the saddest moment of my life. I was sitting in the ambulance on the bench next to the stretcher in tears. The lights of the fire truck behind, flashing, with the number 33 on it. And then I remember moving from an intense sadness to thinking about the times we sailed together. And the sadness disappeared into wonderful memories.”
Watching the peace and comfort come to this pained man’s face, I thought what an inspiration he is, so bravely honoring his emotions for all the world to see. Showing us the beauty of moving forward through sadness and pain to cherish memories of joy.
I thought, how cathartic (without the d) it must have been for Chief Pfeifer to speak so openly, lovingly and longingly about his heroic brother. And that made me stop and consider that each and every one of us will forever mourn the loss of someone we love. What if we could offer to someone that we sense is hurting something akin to what the film makers gave Chief Pfeifer …
If you have it in you this weekend, invite a friend or a few to sit with you and share their happiest memories of those who have gone before us. Offer gently, kindly, and only if you sense it would bring them comfort. And then just listen. Like the best documentarian, be a caring, attentive someone there to simply acknowledge the enduring pain and hear the words of love and admiration flow.
We’ve heard many a cardie refer to our cards as “paper hugs,” which of course can be sent to anyone you know who needs one at any time. In fact, to encourage you to reach out to people that you sense are now fiercely missing someone — whether lost on 9/11, or a month or a lifetime ago — we’d be honored to give you one of the cards below FREE with any order you place through this weekend of remembrance. Just use the promo code Wonderful Memories at checkout for the full card discount to be automatically applied. And feel free to post a tribute here as well, to someone you’ve lost and/or to a survivor you admire. Take good care.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
God Bless and protect the USA.
I often think of the people who lost loved ones on Sept 11th and wonder how they are doing.
I especially think of the children who lost a parent that day.
Losing a parent, as I lost my mother to cancer when I was 7, is a life-changing event.
Losing a parent to an evil act makes my loss appear to be much easier to bear.
I wish them happiness & fulfillment always.
A few hours after we sent this Cardie Newsletter, I was rummaging around for something and happened across a little note from my mother, who has been with us in spirit alone since 2005. It felt so good to see Mom’s distinctive handwriting in which she’d written this Louisa May Alcott quote: “Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” Below that, in a quote all her own, Mom had written, “Please dwell in sunshine, too — see the beauty — and regard all with love, admiration and a great deal of respect. Love, Mom” Especially on 9/11, our messages from the heavens are so awesome to receive.