Everyone is talking -- or purposely NOT talking, as their perogative dictates -- about today. The Terrorist Attack: One Year Later. I haven't addressed it yet, or mentioned it even, because I haven't known what to say.

Many people are upset because it seems today has simply become a day capitalized on by our country's blatant commercialism and the entertainment industry's unapologetic ploy for ratings. I can understand their frustration, and I feel it, too. Some are even boycotting TV altogether today, which I don't think is a bad idea, necessarily.

If I learned anything from being sick a few years ago, it's that unless you've been through the exact same experience as another person (and even then, it's iffy), you simply can't fathom what that person went through, and, certainly, how that effects him/her to this day. Now, I know thousands of people experienced the attack last year; therefore, they indeed have the shared experience of the actual event. But because we're talking about individuals and the millions of nuances that make up each experience, each loved one lost, each psychological effect, each memory made, each behavior invoked, ad infinitum... who am I to say how or how not to commemorate the year anniversary of one of the biggest tragedies this country has ever seen?

I was on the other side of the country one year ago today. I don't have any friends or family who live or lived anywhere near where the attacks occured last year. And until recently, I didn't even know anyone who knew anyone directly connected to the attacks. I can have a personal opinion about how the media is going about today's broadcasts, but it just feels wrong to pretend I have a clue as to what it might be like for those affected by it, and therefore, what might feel to them an appropriate way to deal with the anniversary of such an event.

There. I've said it, and I'm glad.

Now, on to another topic. Today is supposedly my last day at this temp job. I was originally asked to stay through today; therefore, I assumed they'd hired someone to start tomorrow. So, I made plans with Non to visit our parents this weekend. Then, just two days ago, my supervisor asked me to stay through the end of the week. I explained that I'd already made plans because I'd only been asked to stay through Wednesday. The temp lady called me shortly thereafter saying, "I thought you wanted to stay at this job, but I hear you aren't even going to stay through the week." She's such a stupid doofus (thankfully, she's not my regular temp lady, just the lady who normally deals with this particular company). After giving her a minor tongue-lashing for being an idiot, she tried to backpeddle and said, "well, of course it isn't your fault."

Anyway.

She informed me that another temp would cover Thursday and Friday for me, but that they'd send him/her here on Wednesday (TODAY) so I can train him/her. I've been at work for an hour and a half, and still no word about another temp. I'm kinda bummed. I was looking forward to being the one training instead of the one being trained for a change. Ah, such is the Life of a Temp Worker.

I was in the market yesterday after work, and as I was wandering around between the produce section and the deli, Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" came on through the market's piped in music station. If ever there was a song whose infectious pleasantness is impossible to ignore, it's that one. I stood there, next to some good-looking cheese, bobbing my head and slapping my thigh, for the entirety of the song.

Non and I were talking about music during our ritualistic morning conversation today, and he mentioned he'd heard a kick-ass rendition of "America the Beautiful" earlier. And, okay, the song is fine and everything, but what made it kick-ass was that it was sung by Ray Charles. With the "Isn't She Lovely" reference of yesterday (which I told Non about last night) and this morning's "America the Beautiful", we marveled for a few minutes on just how Fantastically Talented these men are. I mean, they'd be remarkably talented if they had sight, but THEY'RE BLIND. How freakin' amazing is THAT? They've got to be two of the best musicians to have ever lived. Don'tcha think?

As far as I'm concerned, Stevie's "Superstitious" will never go out of style.