Chapters 25 and 26

At the start of the year two in Cork, just as the family thought it was finally accepted in the Irish society, 9/11 knocked on the door.

This tragic event shocked not only the Monagans, but also the rest of the world. Everyone realised that there was no safe heaven in the world anymore.

I have an indelible memory of the 9. November 2001. I had school until 8 p.m. and was blissfully unaware of the horrendous happening until I came home. Having opened the door, I saw my family glued to the TV and watching what first appeared to be an action film. I asked my mother, flabbergasted: "Since when are you watching action films?" and she said to me: "Dina, something terrible happened. New York has been attacked by terrorists." I stood there transfixed and my prayers went to the victims and their families.

But, I digress. The Monagans being American felt unbelievably sad. Even more so when they were confronted with the anti-American feelings in Ireland and the fact that Ireland would not actively participate in the war against terror. Suddenly they didn't feel Irish anymore.

Although I can comprehend the way the Monagans felt as American citizens, the fact remains that any country has a right to decide if it will send their citizens to war or not. After all, by sending them not only would a great number of the soldiers die, but Ireland would also become a potential target for terrorists attacks.

Talking about 9/11 there is always the notion in some places that America deserved what it got as it has always been a reckless superpower wanting to rule the world. While I certainly do not in the least agree that America deserved 9/11, where thousands of innocent people lost their lives, it is true that especially in the aftermath of the war America sought supremacy over other nations. It is also true that no one has until now been able to determine the real impact of 9/11.

A month after 9/11 Irish people soldiered on. The Monagans joined and found a new equilibrium in their belief in the saying: "Carpe diem!"
In accordance with that saying they bought a house and had it renovated. All the while they contemplated about going back home, but they finally did it when the family's near and dear started to die in America. They were amazed by the true shock of their Irish friends when telling them about their departure.

This is when the family knew that Ireland has become their heart's home, to which they are going to return in the forseeable future.

The last vocab quiz for you:

1.unnerve
a)frighten
b)help
c)improve

2. give sb a wide berth
a)to teach someone
b)to talk down to someone
c)to avoid someone

3.feckless
a)rude
b)dishonest
c)unenergetic

4.rampant
a)controlled
b)uncontrolled
c)alarming

5. petrify
a)terrify
b)calm
c)scare