First of all, no, I didn’t get a car or a gift bag or anything like that at the Oprah taping.
What I did get was a reminder of how blessed I am to live in America. (I was at the 9/11 show taping – "The Children of 9/11".) Danny "the singing cop" sang two songs for us before the show began taping. He sang "The Lord’s Prayer", read a poem about our country being fair and free, and then he sang "God Bless America". Several audience members joined in. "God Bless America, Our Home Sweet Home".
I had a few moments to reflect before the show started taping. I do love America. It’s not a perfect county, but it’s mine’s and there’s no place in the world that I’d rather live (visit, yes; live, no). I definitely don’t think that we’ve arrived at our ideals as a county (just check out what’s going on with the Jena 6 case down in Louisiana) but I believe that we’re doing better. I don’t even especially agree with the leadership direction of our country (even though I don’t agree with all of Bush’s policies, I still think that he’s a nice man at heart and would make a great grandpa…but that’s a sidenote). Overall, I love that we live in a democracy and that when we vote (both with our ballots and our dollars), our opinions count.
Anyway, back to the show. Children of 9/11 victims were on stage with Oprah and the focus was on the children being their parent’s legacy. It was supposed to be an uplifting show, but I honestly felt drained from crying by the time that I left. The kids were talking about how their parent’s deaths got harder each year as they got older/could understand more. I was boo-hooing when parents told about how they had to tell their kids that their other parent was never coming come. I especially lost it whan a man was talking about how he told his 3 and a 1/2 year old son (the same age as my oldest son!) that his mom had died and was in heaven, but that she could hear him if he wanted to say anything and the little boy said "I love you mom". By that point, I was ready to leave and go home to my little boys to just hug them tightly (which I was able to do shortly afterwards).
Overall, the show just reinforced the truth that life is a precious gift that can be taken away in a moment. So moms, "Live Well" and "Love Life" (even on laundry day!).
