OKLAHOMA CITY ...

The Oklahoma City Memorial

Middle of the night at my favorite place

The Embassy Suites

and

I just can't seem to sleep tonight

here in

Oklahoma City.

It may have something to do with the fact that hours were spent sitting in HOUSTON

awaiting the plane to arrive from Denver and San Antonio

to bring us

here to this wonderful city...

We were told the delay was a result of

weather in Denver!

However,

the more I have pondered it,

the more I came to realize that it was

more like the impact of realizing it had

nothing to do with the weather of Denver

but

once finally on the plane...

a young and anxious woman

sitting in the seat near me

let me have the real story!

Once in the air

her story was confirmed by a tired

steward who said,

"I can't wait to get to Oklahoma City,

cos' I've been flying since 7am and am more than ready for my time off"!

It was then he told me what had really happened to cause the delay.

It seems that the plane

that left Denver, was found to have

a nail in the tire!

That was the first major glitch in the system

causing my delay.

BUT

it gets a bit better.

Once to San Antonio as they prepared to leave for Houston, it was discovered the plane had

fuel leakage,

which required MAJOR repairs

forcing all passengers to sit on board while those repairs were made!

One more delay.

Seems the weather in Denver was as hot as everywhere else,

and

as we sat and sat, only to sit some more

our plane was suffering

rather major problems in both cities en route to us!

By the time we boarded and I became aware

of

what seems to be rather major issues

I looked at the steward

and

said,

"are we all good now?"

He laughed and said, "oh yes, let's go to Oklahoma City"!

I do love

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES though,

their staff is 99% friendly, helpful

and

with great humor!

Their planes are pretty, colorful and clean.

Their CEO has a message I can

get with and certainly admire.

Happy was I to touch down, get the rental car, only to get in it and realize it did not have the  trusty GPS I was promised,

so I finally made my way

to the ever lovely

and

welcoming

Embassy Suites!

Happy but worn out,

room service for me seemed the only way to spend what little evening I had.

But in realizing my gratitude for a safe flight,

I believe the most upsetting part is that

I had so hoped to visit and to absorb the

Memorial that I pictured above.

It is something I have wanted to see since it was done; to pay my respects and walk through such sacred grounds.

Maybe that is what is on my mind as I sit and think about all those precious lives

now memorialized in such a powerful way

as I try to think of how to fit that in

on my way to Tulsa after a day of speaking.

Some things are just important

just that moving.

It becomes an opportunity to not be missed.

And as I turned on the television here

I found a channel that talks all about

Oklahoma City, it's rich culture

"NATIVE AMERICA"

and

I wish I had more time to see the many things

that they speak of and show on that channel.

I can only imagine that I will be honored to meet some of

Oklahoma's finest in the mental/physical health professions today.

I look forward to hearing their stories

and

to sharing the messages

and hopefully enhancing their resiliency for the hard and challenging work that they do.

Many I'm sure still carry the trauma of that

day of The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6, and injured more than 680 people. The blast destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a sixteen-block radius, destroyed or burned 86 cars, and shattered glass in 258 nearby buildings. The bomb was estimated to have caused at least $652 million worth of damage. 

The damage caused to the community, the people, the families and the Nation?

There is no price for that trauma and heart ache.

The memorial

is a sacred place of honoring, of remembering, of healing.

Oh how I hope to find a way to visit there

and to be still among such a powerful place of healing and the many who have walked those paths between those chairs.

If only for a little while, I am so close to being there.

This is a beautiful city; at least what little I have seen with my eyes.

BUT

the show I watched certainly puts it on a list of places to visit, of sites to behold and people to meet along your journey.

The Cherokee people are here, their spirit strong, along with the Western history

that now

is shared with some "hot jazz",

the OKC Thunder

and

just all sorts of stuff where the buffalo roam

and

they say the "swagger is hot".

Here's to all of you

dear gentle warriors,

may you have an unbelievable day today

while you remember those

who survived that day in 1995

and the many whose lives were lost

by such a destructive act

of terrorism

on our soils.

Thank you to our troops for fighting for our freedoms and to keep our soil safe.

As for President Obama and his fight now

with the senate and congress and the house.

Last I remember,

"he is the MAN of the house"

so it is time.

Time to cut/slash/end

 Congress/Senate and those on the hill with their benefits and elegant salaries of the people. Let's start there

and see if that doesn't decrease the debt

while assuring folks their Social Security

while reducing the debt and getting us back to a Nation to be looked up to.

Take your stand Mr President.

YOU inherited on helluva mess

and

not no one can undue the bell that has been rung of greed through the years before you ever thought of running for office.

So cut the top, and save the folks who are working hard for the money here

and

need medicine and food

rather than cigars and liquor while toasting their descent.

"That's all I have to say about that."

[me and Forest Gump]

The sage is filling this room and I am thinking of all the gentle warriors here and everywhere.

Sending healing thoughts and prayers on the winds today and always.

Walk In Beauty,

DRSES

author of

Healing Heartaches

stories of Loss and Life

Order yours here and mention you are a warrior of this page in the special instructions with your name and message, I would love to send a special thank you gift!

www.drsherryeshowalter.com