What was I doing when the attack on 9-11 occurred?

I look back at 9-11 and sometimes wonder why we want to honor a disaster.  Why do we want to give credit to the power and damage the terrorists caused Americans that day? I have three sons and the fear of having to send them to war terrifies me. When they...
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1392 Views
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The Spratt Genetics

The Spratt Genetics
It’s amazing how genetics passes down your looks. My son looks like me and I look like my Dad and so on. You start to wonder how far does this go on. I know for a fact it does go on for awhile in my family.   This is Charles William...
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1637 Views
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9 11 2001

I was having a cup of coffee, with my husband Tom, in our living room and watching the television, when breaking news came on. Katie Couric and Matt Lauer were telling us over and over when the first plane hit tower 1. We immediately called our sons, Justin and Tyler and...
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1498 Views
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Still So Much Pain

I've written my accounting of where I was on 9-11. But, this morning I sit with Christine watching the build up to the 10th anniversary ceremonies at the three historic locations. We spent the evening last night watching beautifully produced documentaries about the attacks. I had to write this because I...
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1167 Views
3 Comments

Holding Pattern Over Memphis

Brad Hill was the GM of LTA Media, my marketing company on 9-11. He was on his way to Los Angeles to meet a new client, flying at 30,000 feet above Memphis, Tennessee when he heard the strangest announcement over the intercom. The pilot said they had to land immediately and...
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1241 Views
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Donations

Donations
  My brother and I started an off-road apparel company called Dirty Left Elbow and at our first event to launch the company we chose a charitable event called Rocktoberfest over in North Carolina.   It was in November of 2009.   We, along with all the other vendors, were supposed...
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1099 Views
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A Cloudless Sky - September 11, 2001

I remember thinking as I drove to the downtown school where I taught court reporting, what a perfect autumn day it was, a cloudless sky on September 11, 2001 in Columbus, Ohio.  That morning I was assisting the head teacher as we read Q&A for high speed students preparing for graduation.  Around 10:30 that morning a member of...
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1119 Views
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My teenage loves

My parents were in control of what movies I was allowed to see! No scary ones were allowed, so I saw love stories and musicals. These were the days of great MGM spectaculars with loads of girls in colorful costumes dancing down stairs as the main character entered last. There realy...
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1292 Views
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Great-great Grandmother Susan

Great-great Grandmother Susan
  My great-great grandmother Susan Barton Lutz was born in 1838, the year Queen Victoria was crowned Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Ladies wore their hair in ringlets while indoors and covered with lavishly trimmed bonnets when outdoors. Dresses were designed with sloping shoulders, full sleeves and full skirts often...
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2560 Views
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I Remember the Week from Hell - September 2011

I Remember the Week from Hell - September 2011
The Week From Hell – September 2001 Perhaps those of you living in the USA might wonder why the week that included the infamous 9/11/2001 should resonate so strongly with an Australian woman living in Adelaide at the time? However, that week is indelibly etched into my consciousness very clearly, with...
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1471 Views
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Carolyn Sue Scroggins and her Kids

Carolyn Sue Scroggins and her Kids
Charles & Carolyn Spratt with our two sons 1978 about a year before her death. March 28 1979 is a date that will live on in the memories of my family for ever . That is the date that my first wife , the mother of my first two son’s died...
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1802 Views
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Grandma Beavers Didn't Have A Canopy Over Her Bed

Grandma Beavers Didn't Have A Canopy Over Her Bed
I have been encouraged to write some more about my Grandma Beavers by my cousin . Because he said he didn’t know an awful lot about her except his memories of her soon after her husband had died and she was a crabby old woman . My mother was the youngest...
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1305 Views
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Charlie's First Car A 1972 Ford Maverick

Charlie's First Car A 1972 Ford Maverick
Since Tom Cormier’s son Tyler wrote a story about his experience with his dirt bike and his cars I will write one about my deceased son’s car. Since he is not around to do it for himself. It’s just too good of a story not to pass along. Charlie as we...
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1546 Views
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A Camping Trip I Won't Forget

When I was in high school in Pauls Valley ,Oklahoma the main thing we did during the summer months was go camping at Lake Murray near Ardmore Oklahoma. This is about 50 miles from the Texas state line . It never gets cold until late December that far south . This...
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1195 Views
2 Comments

September 11 2011 Just Another Work Day

September 11 2001 was just like all of the other days that had came before . I got up , made the coffee , got my lunch and my wife’s lunch together getting ready for another day at work . My wife always turned the TV on to listen to the...
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1121 Views
2 Comments

Red Alert the Month Before 9/11

But I was not surprised.

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1246 Views
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Working with Juanita

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Last week’s story prompt was something along the lines of “What proud accomplishment did you share together with a friend, colleague or family member.” I had to think a long time about that question, but finally I figured out the answer. It’s been...
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1199 Views
1 Comment

9-11 Reflections

Where were you when the terrorists attacked on 9-11 and how did you learn about it? It's the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States. Your feelings and personal perspective will be important to future generations. Politics aside, it's more about how you and your family were affected...
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1097 Views
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My Great-Grandmother: Willemke de Jong

My Great-Grandmother: Willemke de Jong
Willemke de Jong, the subject of this sketch, was born Willemke Steenblok to Tallegien (Talligje) Steenblok on November 21, 1844 in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.   She was Tallegien's second daughter, according to records found in Groningen. Willemke Steenblok de Jong, about 1927 Willemke must have had a very hard life.  Her...
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1191 Views
3 Comments

My introduction into the world of Rally Racing at 12 years old, unofficially.

World Rally Championships, Rally Cross, or just Rally Racing in general just oozes skill and determination when you start talking about motorsports.  At 12 years old I was introduced, unofficially, into this world of on the edge of your seat racing.  Now some people might think that's pretty impressive to be...
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1333 Views
5 Comments