Anniversary detour

By Linda Leonhart: Our 35th wedding anniversary was Sept. 11, 2000. We had planned a pilgrimage trip to Rome and the Holy Land, where we would renew our marriage vows at Cana. That September trip was canceled upon the wonderful news that our first grandchild was due to arrive around Sept. 9. What a marvelous joy when Claire Elizabeth Lin was born, not on Sept. 9, but on our special anniversary day, Monday, Sept. 11, 2000.

New travel arrangements were planned for an early November departure. The eruption of violence and chaos within the Holy Land caused the United States to issue a travel advisory and warning. And so, we once again canceled and set our sights on a 36th anniversary trip Sept. 11, 2001.

On Monday, Sept 10, 2001, with great anticipation, we journeyed to Minneapolis.

On Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, as we strolled into the hotel dining room for breakfast, we were stunned to encounter small groups of people huddled around televisions as the horrors of the World Trade Center attacks unfolded. There was confusion as to whether flights were or were not canceled. When airlines were confirmed closed, we gave up our hotel room to stranded travelers.

We drove to our daughter and son-in-law's home in Roseville, where we spent the remainder of the day in front of their television, with little Claire Elizabeth on her first birthday and our 36th anniversary. We felt fortunate and blessed to be safe and secure with family.

In 2004, we enjoyed a wonderful pilgrimage to Rome and the shrines of Italy, followed by another to the Holy Land in 2005 -- where we DID renew our marriage vows.