posted 09-25-2001 05:53 PM            

Mark

Sent: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 05:48:18 +0800
Subject: God Bless You Aunt Grace!

Here's a message sent by my Aunt Grace today, just a few hours before she passed away. Please say a prayer for her along with your prayers for those killed and injured on September 11th.

I wish you all could have known her. Think of one of the nicest people you've ever known, and you'll have an idea of what Grace was like.

See you later Grace!!

-Mark

From: "grace"
Sent: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 12:18:40 +0000

Hi,
Are you Dr. Seus fans. Here's a take off on the Grinch who stole
Christmas!

The Binch
>By: Rob Suggs
>Date: September 13, 2001
>
>Every U down in Uville liked U.S. a lot,
>But the Binch, who lived Far East of Uville, did not.
>The Binch hated U.S! the whole U.S. way!
>Now don't ask me why, for nobody can say,
>It could be his turban was screwed on too tight.
>Or the sun from the desert had beaten too bright
>But I think that the most likely reason of all
>May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
>
>But, Whatever the reason, his heart or his turban,
>He stood facing Uville, the part that was urban.
>"They're doing their business," he snarled from his perch.
>"They're raising their families! They're going to church!
>They're leading the world, and their empire is thriving,
>I MUST keep the S's and U's from surviving!"
>
>Tomorrow, he knew, all the U's and the S's,
>Would put on their pants and their shirts and their dresses,
>They'd go to their offices, playgrounds and schools,
>And abide by their U and S values and rules,
>
>And then they'd do something he liked least of all,
>Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,
>Would stand all united, each U and each S,
>And they'd sing Uville's anthem, "God bless us! God bless!"
>All around their Twin Towers of Uville, they'd stand,
>and their voices would drown every sound in the land.
>
>"I must stop that singing," Binch said with a smirk,
>And he had an idea--an idea that might work!
>The Binch stole some U airplanes in U morning hours,
>And crashed them right into the Uville Twin Towers.
>"They'll wake to disaster!" he snickered, so sour,
>"And how can they sing when they can't find a tower?"
>
>The Binch cocked his ear as they woke from their sleeping,
>All set to enjoy their U-wailing and weeping,
>Instead he heard something that started quite low,
>And it built up quite slow, but it started to grow--
>And the Binch heard the most unpredictable thing...
>And he couldn't believe it--they started to sing!
>
>He stared down at U-ville, not trusting his eyes,
>What he saw was a shocking, disgusting surprise!
>Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,
>Was singing! Without any towers at all!
>He HADN'T stopped U-Ville from singing! It sung!
>For down deep in the hearts of the old and the young,
>Those Twin Towers were standing, called Hope and called Pride,
>And you can't smash the towers we hold deep inside.
>
>So we circle the sites where our heroes did fall,
>With a hand in each hand of the tall and the small,
>And we mourn for our losses while knowing we'll cope,
>For we still have inside that U-Pride and U-Hope.
>
>For America means a bit more than tall towers,
>It means more than wealth or political powers,
>It's more than our enemies ever could guess,
>So may God bless America! Bless us! God bless!

--

posted 09-26-2001 01:13 AM            

I know that the poem doesn't address the possibilities of conspiracy, etc. but the meaning is sincere and well-intentioned and in most respects true. I believe that U.S. citizens/Americans will not surrender to any threat.

It made me feel better to post it here as a tribute to Aunt Grace. I consider many of you in a way, some of my closest friends.

Anyway, here's to better days ahead, and the best of luck to all of us!

posted 09-27-2001 01:35 PM            

Aunt Grace died of a heart attack, very sudden and unexpected. I have a better sense and sympathy for the souls lost to their loved ones on 9/11.

The funeral is Saturday and I'll remember all of you in my prayers too!!