The answer is: YES. Absolutely, positively, YES. We must carry on with all those activities that cause us to pause, reflect and enjoy our lives.  

The definition of terrorism is to systematically use terror and fright to achieve an end with that end being the destruction of a people and our way of life. The goal was not simply to kill, destroy and disrupt. The larger goal was to "cut off the head of the snake," which is a metaphor for destroying America. As long as we carry on, the goal of terrorism has not been achieved.  

You and I, dear scrapbookers, are Americans (or friends of Americans). America is not the White House, not the World Trade Center, not New York, not the Pentagon. It is each one of us living our lives and instilling our values in our children. As long as I keep my family moving along the right path, as long as I document and herald my way of life, as long as I pray and live so that different people of different beliefs can live together in harmony, then America goes on.

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Related Resources • Story Starter Collection • Quick and Easy Pages: Book Review of New Book by Joanna Campbell Slan • Journaling and Lettering • How To Get Started Journaling in Your Album: Beginner How To

From Other Guides • Journaling for Scrapbooks

Elsewhere on the Web • Scrapbook Storytelling

1) GOD BLESS AMERICA -- Think of the Congressmen breaking spontaneously into the song "God Bless America." What does it mean to you to be an American? If you are not American, feel free to insert your nation's songs of patriotism and ponder what it means to be a citizen of your country. (Remember, this was an attack on all peace-loving people, not just the United States.)

• Page Idea -- What symbolizes your country to you, personally?
• Journaling Idea -- Use the words of the patriotic song as your journaling or a portion of your journaling.
• Photo Idea -- What images are unique to your country? England is known for its red post boxes (mail boxes), red double-decker buses, and its red telephone booths, so I'm working on a page called, "Seeing Red."
• Journaling Idea -- Ask your children what their national heritage means to them.

2) WE WILL NEVER FORGET -- In every generation, significant events form a collective consciousness. Think of Pearl Harbor. Think of the day that John F. Kennedy died. Think of the news that Princess Diana had died. To this sad list, we add September 11, 2001. 

Journaling Ideas: 

• Where were you when you heard the reports? What did you think? What were the reactions of the people around you? 
• Be sure to describe the humanness of reactions. When I walked into a chemist's shop (pharmacy) here in Sunningdale, the staff was gathered and talking quietly. The woman who waited on me had tear-stained eyes. The moment she heard my "American" accent, those eyes threatened to well over.
• What did you do? What actions did you take? 
• What part did you play? We lit candles and said special prayers here. A group of mothers and I worked to create 840 yellow ribbons on pins to  distribute to the children at school during a special assembly. Being with other people eased the emptiness inside, somehow. A group of mothers from my son's school drove to Heathrow, distributing sandwiches to stranded travelers and bringing them to their homes to spend the night.

Visual Page Ideas: 

• Add "cartoons" to your page that describe your feelings.
• Scan and reduce front pages of papers for art elements.
• Take photos of the visual signs of mourning: the yellow ribbons I described, closures of public gathering spots, notices of special memorial services, and flags flown at half-mast. The poignancy of small gestures 
  underscores our feeling of helplessness.

IMPORTANT:

In the years to come, history will write this story anew. Take time today to write your version detailing the impact it has had on your personal life. The stories of ordinary people create a counter-melody that better describes the total situation.

For example, since London is now a no-fly zone, air traffic to London's Heathrow airport has been re-routed. The night of the tragedy as Michael was settling down to sleep, a commercial airline flew over our home. He jumped up in terror, calling, "Mom, Mom!" My stomach clenched in fear as well. I realized, "So this is what so many nations of people live with all the time!" Let us never forget those we've lost, and let us never become cavalier about the importance of peace.

Now on to that daily life that is so precious to us all…

Click here for the September Story Starters!

Have a blessed September. -- Joanna