Yeah. We usually do not celebrate her birthday on that day, not so much because of the terrorist attacks, but all the emotional trauma that the day brings up.
That Sunday prior, she was involved in a fatal car accident. We took two separate cars back from Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. As we were crossing Ocean City, some jerk riding a motorcycle had his girlfriend hitched on the back, and decided to cut off a boat trailer.
He hit the boat, the woman flew off and hit the pavement - dying instantly. My mom tried her best to swerve around, but ran over the woman. I got home and nobody was there, and since I did not have keys, I had to break into the house. By the time I got in, the answering machine had a tearful voicemail I could barely comprehend saying that she was at the police station being interviewed.
My brother and her finally got home on Monday night, and were determined to not let the ordeal bug them. Then Tuesday hit, and D.C. and New York got attacked. The next day, her brother had a severe accident at work and was rushed to the hospital. It was learned he had some medical ailment that required them to amputate both his legs. She was there to endure all that.
It was a rough week.
