9/11

Seven years ago today, I was sitting in my courtroom when I got the word that one of the Twin Towers in New York had been hit by a plane. I'm not sure how I got the word first - I may have had the internet up in background on my computer. I remember seeing a picture, and checking the news story and all it said was that one of the Towers had been hit and no further news was known. This had to be minutes later.

We have a TV here in my suite of offices which occasionally has been used for various purposes - to view video evidence, for purposes of my annual Bar Seminar, etc. We wheeled it in to my Case Coordinator's office and turned on the news - all the while, I was ducking in and out of Court. I actually saw the second tower get hit and I can remember one of the women on my staff saying, "You don't think that's a coincidence, do you?" and my bailiff and I just looked at each other and said, "No." At that point of course we knew something was really wrong.

The rest of the day is kind of a blur. The Court House was closed at noon but I was still here, finishing up some work and actually was still in a hearing past noon. Of course, I'd spoken to my wife. Our youngest was 4 and at the sitters, my wife was at her former job at our church just down the street, our daughter was in middle school and our third son was a freshman in college but was at home. Our oldest son was in school in Tennessee and our second son in Morgantown. I can remember wishing that all of us were together somewhere. Truly, none of us new what to expect next. Was our country being attacked?

There were stories of a plane over Elkins. Then of course we heard of the plane that hit the Pentagon. We were scheduled to go to Morgantown that evening for a picnic with our oldest son, a class activity for him at WVU. That event was cancelled but we went ahead and had dinner with him. Earlier in the day, my wife and I had been to one of many local church services, at the Presbyterian Church here in downtown Clarksburg.

I was interviewed by the local news media (WDTV) early that afternoon and what I recall is that I was worried about my adult sons and the possibility of a draft. Selfish maybe but it was on my mind. After we had dinner with my #2 son in Morgantown, he attended a service at his church there and coincidentially he was interviewed for his reaction, also by WDTV. The 11:00 news featured father and son back-to-back but the connection was not made. I wish I'd asked for a copy of that spot!

So much has happened since then. The aftermath has included the Iraq War and now we're facing yet another Presidential election with these issues of terrorism, etc., still at the fore. Our country certainly needs someone to lead us these next few years who can deal effectively with these issues and other pressing ones such as energy which are undeniably related in some ways. That's what I'm praying for today.

September Seventh

Busy month so far! Annette and I had a great anniversary getaway last weekend, after Ethan and I ran (slowly!) the Charleston 5k. It was my 12th in a row and it was fun. Then his momma and I, on Sun. after church, took off for an overnight in the mountains. We had a great time - relaxing, good to get away and just spend a little while focusing on each other and nuthin' else - including work and "thinking about the future."

Then this week I had a full docket but on Wednesday my staff worked a miracle and got me out of the Court House by 3 so I could make an appearance at the Supreme Court reception at the Governor's Mansion at 5. It was fun and interesting - got to meet both Gov. and Mrs. Manchin for the first time and see some other friends, and also shake hands with three of the Supreme Court Justices. Then back on the road and home in time to say goodnight to Ethan - a full day - one of those where I was tired but felt like I'd gotten a lot done, and a lot of good stuff done.

This weekend was our first of five for Youth Leader Core (YLC), a statewide denominational program I've directed before. This is the first time I've done it without one of my own kids being in it. Kids are selected by their pastors and youth leaders for their own leadership qualities, and we have five intensive weekends focusing on developing good leadership skills in God's Kingdom and the church. I have a great leadership team with four others, including two college students who went through YLC not all that long ago themselves, and 12 students. We were at my church this weekend and will be in Summersville in October, Nitro in January, Crab Orchard in February and Morgantown in April. Or at least that's the plan now -

Got some interesting word this weekend on yet another possible option for after January career-wise which I'll be pursuing. Don't know why - maybe this is just wishful thinking - but feels like some positive and maybe even surprising opportunities are just around the corner -

Almost September

Heard from an old friend tonight - a blast from the past for sure! Hadn't seen her in years but she told me she'd been catching up with me on this blog. Great to hear from her.

Well, my daughter and son have started their school years. So far so good!

Tomorrow night I'll "run the Italian Heritage Festival" which has been a tradition these last 12 years. All that means is, I'll go to downtown Clarksburg after dark and run Main Street, which will be lit up and busy with folks setting up for the Festival which is this weekend. Friday, the Court House will close at noon, I'll probably go "eat on the street" since the vendors will be set up, and then we'll head for Charleston. Ethan and I will be running the Regatta 5k there and try to get back to watch WVU's first game of the season on TV. Then Sunday after church I'm kidnapping my wife for our annual anniversary getaway :)

Right at the end of the campaign, I attended a dinner with a "silent auction" and I won an overnight at a great place not far from here. So that's our destination - but it's a secret from her so can't say any more about it right now -

It's been a pretty good week so far! Getting up earlier to get the boy to school, and getting to the office earlier, has been good!

Light at the end of the tunnel

Sure have enjoyed watching some Olympics this week. The 4x200 relay in men's swimming was incredible, with Lezak (32 years old) swimming the last leg and breaking a world record for splits, and just out-touching the Frenchman who previously had held the world record and who was way ahead of him until the last few strokes. Especially since the French publicly had promised to smash the Americans! Enough to inspire anyone -

I'm beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday was three months post-Election. I still don't know what I'll be doing, for sure, but the thought of doing my own thing is taking shape better. I finished the week-long Family Court mediation training and really enjoyed it - mediating is one option which would be good for me and might produce some income. It's also encouraging to find out that a number of jobs are open or are becoming open - I've put in an application or two and have had some nice comments in return.

Summer is winding down - just a couple more weeks until my daughter starts her junior year of college and my son enters middle school. Yikes! Not sure I'm ready for either -

8.8.08

The Olympics start today - I always look forward to watching them. Should be especially interesting this year since they're in Beijing. I hope things really are getting better there in the human rights arena...

Our friends, Pastor Andre and Mme. Justine Jean from Haiti, are our guests this weekend.

I finished the 40 hour Family Mediation Training seminar today and it was an enjoyable week. Definitely glad I completed it - working as a mediator is definitely a possibility for the future, not as an entire career certainly but as a part.

More and more things seem to be coming open so we will see. I'm sure I've used that phrase "we will see" more than once in this blog - sorry about that but it fits --

I realized this week that I have just a bit over four more months on the bench. Less than a week from now will be three months past the election - amazing -

Everyone out there, enjoy your 8.8.08 --

King Tut's and Church

Forgot - we celebrated the boys' birthday at a great hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Knoxville called "King Tut's." The owner, Mo, was quite the funny guy! I'll write more about him later. For now, let's just say King Tut's is a very worthy successor to Senor Taco! After dinner, we went to a 10:50 showing of "The Dark Knight." All of us had seen it at least once except Ethan, and he was fine with it. Didn't get to bed till about 2:00 Sun. a.m. and barely got up in time for church - a great service at my son's church, Redeemer. Last Sunday, there was a nationally-covered church shooting at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Knoxville and it turns out a fellow killed there was the father of a member of my son's church - an eerie feeling to think that something like that happened just a few miles from where Christopher and Alice were worshipping at the same time - I've been praying for the U.U. congregation this week and now have a name to add to that -

Mediation

For a long time, I've been in favor of we Family Court Judges being required to complete mediation training. We have to send so many litigants to mediation, how could it not make us more effective in our jobs? Anyway, with my loss in the election, I decided to go ahead and attend myself. Depending on how things play out between here and Jan. 1, it may be beneficial in more ways than one for me to have qualification as a Family Court mediator!

Today was the first day of a five-day training program in Morgantown and it was enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the rest! I was a bit tired today - we didn't get home from Knoxville until after midnight, We left my son's apartment yesterday at 3:45 and by 5:45 we hadn't gone 20 miles - all the result of a major tractor-trailer accident/spill before noon yesterday which tied up traffic in a rather major way - obviously - hope no one was hurt -

Had a great time in Knoxville and looking forward to the next time with the whole crew! Since I'm in Morgantown each day this week, all day and in addition I have evening meetings tomorrow and Thursday, I'm taking #2 son Cameron and his wife to dinner tomorrow during my break.

We've gotten some major lawn work done this past week which is great. Our two huge spruce trees got a much-needed pruning, the grass is mowed and today I got my new "Garden Groom" trimmer in the mail. We've got some bushes - one especially - in desperate need of some major trimming. I may give that a shot this weekend, although our Haitian pastor Andre Jean and his wife Justine will be here for their once-a-year visit so it'll be very busy - we'll see -

Looking at about a dozen jobs as of now - not surpisingly, my interest level varies rather widely from one to another - but it is encouraging that so many things seem to be open right now -

Can't wait for The Amazing Race and Survivor to come back on the air! Should be next month. In the meantime - I'll have to content myself with the Olympics. I am looking forward to them - they start this Friday, 8/8/08. Go USA!