The Moments That Define Us
There are moments in our lives that are so surprising, unexpected, shocking, important or momentous that they become defining moments. Moments that shape our understanding of the world, moments that teach us about our common humanity, and moments that cement our faith in people or higher powers.
Here are mine...there are three
In January of 1986, when I was in the fourth grade, I watched with excitement alongside, my teacher, Mrs. Terrien, and classmates as the Challenger Space Shuttle launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. I was nine years old. We were watching because a Science teacher had been selected to go into space alongside the Challenger crew. That space launch ended in tragedy when the shuttle suddenly disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean. At first, I remember my teacher's confusion, and then I remember her turning the TV away from the class, and then off. Finally, she left the room to go across the hall to speak with Sister Ann, the other fourth-grade teacher...the rest of that day escapes me, but that moment is etched in my memory.
Next...when I was 14, my family traveled to Massachusetts for a basketball tournament that my younger brother was playing in. I was a freshman in high school. Some of my best friends were there with me as their younger siblings were playing too. We stayed in a hotel that had a large atrium area with a pool table, ping pong table, TV's, and a swimming pool. In the evening, while the team and families were relaxing in the hotel atrium and pool, my friends and I met a group of soldiers who were just returning from Kuwait where they had been deployed to Operation Desert Storm. We had been hearing about Desert Storm for months in the news and now, here in front of us, were real people who had been on the front lines of that fight. It was a big deal to us, and we hung on the every word these solders shared with us about their experiences. We took pictures with them, which I still have today. It was one of the first times where a political and military, event became part of real-life for me. I often wonder about those solders and wonder about how their lives were affected after they returned to the states.
Much later in my life, when I was 25, I was co-leading a returning student trip with a group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors from the small boarding school I worked at. We were in the North East Kingdom at a cabin on Lake Memphremagog the morning of September 11th when we heard about the first reports of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers in NYC, and the Pentagon, in Washington DC. We had no access to a TV, just a small AM/FM radio that a student had brought with him. The group of us had no idea the extent of that tragedy until we returned back to the school that Tuesday evening to watch the news reports that were playing 'round the clock. It still gives me chills thinking about it. Our country changed forever that day.
These three moments affected me so greatly that I remember them with clarity today at 43, I suspect that if I do this reflection again in 20 years, this current event, this global pandemic, will make the list of moments that shaped me. I will remember with clarity juggling work and teaching my kids at 9 and 7, and I will remember what our house looks like in this time and space (considering the amount of time we are spending here). I suspect that it will be the same for all of you.
Unfortunately, it is often the tragic moments that we remember so vividly, but I think that is because they give us the greatest opportunities to come together as a community and to produce amazing moments of joy in the wake of these tragedies. I challenge you all to become positive change-makers in the midst (or at some point in the wake of) this global crisis. How can you brighten someone's day? Create something beautiful? Become part of a movement? Or help out a friend or neighbor in need?
Beauty from tragedy. Here are some examples...
The recording of, We Are The World, in response to famine in Africa in the '80s. This recording raised $60 million dollars for charity work both in Africa and the US.
Many in the fashion industry have currently stopped sewing fashion trends and are now sewing masks to support medical workers during the Covid crisis.
Check out this article and interview about The Man in the Red Bandanna. His story was widely shared after his identity became known more than a year after 9/11.
If you find or know of other examples of beauty in the face of tragedy, feel free to link them in the comments below.
Well gosh, I told you that these blog posts were going to be short...I've not kept my promise today!
Better luck tomorrow.
Virtual Spirit Week continues...
Thanks to those of you that sent in "Mud" season photos yesterday! The amount of snow we got surprised me, and it stuck around long enough for our family to have a snowball fight yesterday evening after dinner! I, for one, am fine if it all melts with the warmer temps today and the rest of this week...I am ready for spring to finally take hold for good! A number of folks got out to look for some mud yesterday...take a look.
Today is DEAR day, and since all of you should be taking some time to read each day, make sure you take a picture and capture a good title or two. Share it with us for a little inspiration!
I am currently reading, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden. I wish I was a little further along, but it's good so far!
Have a great day everyone!
Be well,
Mrs. Hempey
Here are mine...there are three
In January of 1986, when I was in the fourth grade, I watched with excitement alongside, my teacher, Mrs. Terrien, and classmates as the Challenger Space Shuttle launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. I was nine years old. We were watching because a Science teacher had been selected to go into space alongside the Challenger crew. That space launch ended in tragedy when the shuttle suddenly disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean. At first, I remember my teacher's confusion, and then I remember her turning the TV away from the class, and then off. Finally, she left the room to go across the hall to speak with Sister Ann, the other fourth-grade teacher...the rest of that day escapes me, but that moment is etched in my memory.
Next...when I was 14, my family traveled to Massachusetts for a basketball tournament that my younger brother was playing in. I was a freshman in high school. Some of my best friends were there with me as their younger siblings were playing too. We stayed in a hotel that had a large atrium area with a pool table, ping pong table, TV's, and a swimming pool. In the evening, while the team and families were relaxing in the hotel atrium and pool, my friends and I met a group of soldiers who were just returning from Kuwait where they had been deployed to Operation Desert Storm. We had been hearing about Desert Storm for months in the news and now, here in front of us, were real people who had been on the front lines of that fight. It was a big deal to us, and we hung on the every word these solders shared with us about their experiences. We took pictures with them, which I still have today. It was one of the first times where a political and military, event became part of real-life for me. I often wonder about those solders and wonder about how their lives were affected after they returned to the states.
These pictures represent this moment in my life. The first is a picture of one of the soldiers, and the second is me in the middle and two of my best friends from high school. The girl on the right is still one of my best friends today. The girl on the left, I am still in touch with via social media, but we don't have a close friendship anymore.
Much later in my life, when I was 25, I was co-leading a returning student trip with a group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors from the small boarding school I worked at. We were in the North East Kingdom at a cabin on Lake Memphremagog the morning of September 11th when we heard about the first reports of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers in NYC, and the Pentagon, in Washington DC. We had no access to a TV, just a small AM/FM radio that a student had brought with him. The group of us had no idea the extent of that tragedy until we returned back to the school that Tuesday evening to watch the news reports that were playing 'round the clock. It still gives me chills thinking about it. Our country changed forever that day.
These three moments affected me so greatly that I remember them with clarity today at 43, I suspect that if I do this reflection again in 20 years, this current event, this global pandemic, will make the list of moments that shaped me. I will remember with clarity juggling work and teaching my kids at 9 and 7, and I will remember what our house looks like in this time and space (considering the amount of time we are spending here). I suspect that it will be the same for all of you.
Unfortunately, it is often the tragic moments that we remember so vividly, but I think that is because they give us the greatest opportunities to come together as a community and to produce amazing moments of joy in the wake of these tragedies. I challenge you all to become positive change-makers in the midst (or at some point in the wake of) this global crisis. How can you brighten someone's day? Create something beautiful? Become part of a movement? Or help out a friend or neighbor in need?
Beauty from tragedy. Here are some examples...
The recording of, We Are The World, in response to famine in Africa in the '80s. This recording raised $60 million dollars for charity work both in Africa and the US.
Many in the fashion industry have currently stopped sewing fashion trends and are now sewing masks to support medical workers during the Covid crisis.
Check out this article and interview about The Man in the Red Bandanna. His story was widely shared after his identity became known more than a year after 9/11.
If you find or know of other examples of beauty in the face of tragedy, feel free to link them in the comments below.
Well gosh, I told you that these blog posts were going to be short...I've not kept my promise today!
Better luck tomorrow.
Virtual Spirit Week continues...
Thanks to those of you that sent in "Mud" season photos yesterday! The amount of snow we got surprised me, and it stuck around long enough for our family to have a snowball fight yesterday evening after dinner! I, for one, am fine if it all melts with the warmer temps today and the rest of this week...I am ready for spring to finally take hold for good! A number of folks got out to look for some mud yesterday...take a look.
Today is DEAR day, and since all of you should be taking some time to read each day, make sure you take a picture and capture a good title or two. Share it with us for a little inspiration!
I am currently reading, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden. I wish I was a little further along, but it's good so far!
Have a great day everyone!
Be well,
Mrs. Hempey
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