Today, September 11th, is my Dad's birthday. I'm such a huge fan of my Dad. I'm named after my Dad and he is a man that I look up to immensely. My
father is still such a rock for my family. He may come off rugged and quiet but he is one of the most sweet, caring and joyful people that I have in my
life. All of my Dad's actions come from his heart. He is not a man of pretension. If you treat him well, he will treat you well. His manner is very simple
and that it was why I've learned so much from him. So many people I've witnessed in my life thrive off of drama. To see someone so completely disconnected
from that trend can teach you a great deal. Dad - Happy Birthday. My wish for you is that this year is filled with more health, love, friends, family and
good times than you know what to do with. I love you.
Today is also a day that has become a day of remembrance. The attack on our soil was one that drove a stake in to the heart of our country. Having been in
New York during and after 9/11, I have seen a city that has grown and risen from such deep wrenching fear and loss and become a more cohesive place. I know I
will never truly get over the feeling of that day. The madness, the panic, the unsureness and the absolute feeling of helplessness is something that you
cannot shake. Each year I think different things about the events of that day and how it has shaped me, my friends, my city, my country. I look at how the
events that took place on that morning brought out the best in this country and sadly the worst. I saw the heroic and the willful in my fellow New Yorkers
as they risked their health to work at Ground Zero directly following the attacks and then we saw our own politicians use the terror warnings in the years to
follow as a voting tools. There is so much good that came out of that day in regards to our recovery and then so much negativity that still lingers 8 years
later. That day's events crushed families, broke spirits, confused our faith and at the same time it inspired hope, taught perseverance and strength and
brought a Nation together for a moment. As Friedrich Nietzsche said "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." He couldn't have been more right.
Lastly, today is an important day to me because it is the 3rd birthday of this here blog! Dashusland is three! I began writing Dashusland on September 11th 2006. I had just
gotten home from a fabulous week in Rehoboth Beach and I wanted to create some sort of artistic and cathartic outlet for myself. I love music and poetry and
fashion and photography and art and I wanted a place where I could just document the things in my life that caught my eye. This blog has become some what of
a living online journal of mine. This post will be my 1,507th post that I have written on this site since that first day. As this blog took off and I really found my home here, I made a promise to myself (and
to you) on January 1st 2007 that I'd post at least one thing daily and I haven't missed a day yet. Whew! I look back at my HAHAHA posts that are filled with some funny videos, quotes, and photos that have caught my eye and I
still laugh. I love my posts on ART, or the photos that I have snapped with my Blackberry and now with my iPhone
that are part of my DASHUS:MOBILE series. I love my Quote related posts in my YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT series featuring quotes and sayings that I found interesting or inspiring or provocative. I'm also enjoying the new set of photos that I'm calling UP FROM DOWN which is my vantage point on the city I live in looking up at all the skyscrapers that I
adore. This blog is fun for me and I hope that you find it fun sometimes, too. I really enjoy writing it and keeping it current. The things I feature here
are just things that I dig. Dashusland is my lil' outlet and my communication with you. I hope that you'll continue to visit me here. Please continue to
comment on the site and to send me things that you think I'd find interesting. I LOVE that. Here is to 3 more super duper years of Dashus goodness. I promise ya. xox.
Hell yes, poignant and powerful, dead on on all points. Dad is all the things you said, most selfless person. Way to go on 3 years of Dashusland, this site is awesome, I only hope to eventually get mine back going to make it one year, so 3 is a hell of an accomplishment. Love you Bro!!
Posted by: Matt Fitzgerald | September 13, 2009 at 09:12 AM