When your birthday falls on September 11

September 11, 2010 • Posted in memoir writing, Uncategorized, writing by

Happy birthday Myrna!

Myrna Knepler enrolled in my memoir-writing class after retiring from teaching at Northeastern Illinois University. Having a smart woman like her as a student could have been intimidating, but Myrna is so sweet, so patient and so downright fun that you just can’t be nervous around her. Plus she has a terrific laugh!

Myrna saw a story in the New York Times about people with birthdays on September 11 and showed up in class Wednesday with an essay on the subject. Here’s an excerpt from Myrna’s essay:

I am one of those whose routine compliance to a request for identification at the bank, the airport, and the doctor’s office elicits comment, and sometimes commiseration. Yes, my birthday is September 11th. Unlike other days marking tragic events like Pearl Harbor, this event, like the festive 4th of July is known by the date it occurred. Most people can’t help commenting.

People who share that birthday are quoted in the Times article as coping in various ways. Some still limit their birthday celebration even years after the 2001 tragedy. Others try to ignore what they see is only a coincidence. Myrna said she tends to do the latter, but there is always some sense of tragedy on her birthday morning. She turns on the radio, or opens the newspaper, and there it is. In the New York Times, a September 11 birthday is described as a conundrum.

Every year since, there is a strange confluence of events for those born on Sept. 11. It might be a point of pride to share a birthday with literary lions (D. H. Lawrence and O. Henry) or celebrities (Maria Bartiromo, Brian De Palma, Valentino and Moby), but sharing the day with a national tragedy is a conundrum.

In 2001, Myrna was supposed to celebrate her birthday at dinner with two of her daughters. Instead, they spent the evening at the Red Cross.

There were lots of people there, and strangers talked easily to one another. The Red Cross was overwhelmed with people wanting to give blood and give us an appointment for another day. We grabbed a bite to eat and went home.

One of the women interviewed in the New York Times story will turn 40 next year, the tenth anniversary at Ground Zero, and says she doesn’t look towards that birthday with the dread she might have otherwise. “The events of that day made aging seem like such a minor worry.” I have a feeling that might be how Myrna feels, too. I’ll say this: I’m sure glad Myrna was born, and I feel oh so fortunate she found her way into our memoir-writing class. As the Beatles like to say, Myrna: “I’m glad it’s your birthday. Happy birthday to you!”

Mary Jo On September 11, 2010 at 4:52 pm

Beautiful post!

Bob On September 11, 2010 at 5:21 pm

Hadn’t really thought about how many times you’d have to say “911” or “September 11th” if that is your birthday –every time you go to the doctor, fill out a form and all that. Must get pretty tiring, hearing a sad response every time you say it out loud.

Lori On September 11, 2010 at 6:10 pm

Hope you have a great birthday Myrna!

Maria On September 12, 2010 at 8:19 am

Last night As I looked at the NYC skyline, with the beams of light rising into the night sky where the towers once stood, your blog about 9/11 birthdays brought so much into perspective. I am also happy to have two friends who celebrate their birthdays on
Sept. 11.

Shaina Rose On September 12, 2010 at 7:51 pm

Happy birthday to an amazing woman and role model, I love you Grandma!

bethfinke On September 13, 2010 at 6:08 am

Shaina, what fun to have you comment here. Your grandma speaks so highly of you, she is so proud of you. Guess you two are a mutual admiration society! Thanks for leaving this sweet comment —

AHNEE On September 12, 2010 at 10:37 pm

I am pleased to know and hopefully remember that you Myrna taught at Nortwestern. I always knew you could really write well now I know why. People often teach what they want to learn.
Look forward to hearing you and seeing you in class Wednesday.

bethfinke On September 13, 2010 at 6:14 am

Ahnee, interesting thought, that people teach what they want to learn. I know you’ve taught art, and that you continue to learn more and more about art wherever you go. So many teachers in that class, when I think of it – Myrna (who taught at NorthEASTERN Illinois) is not the only former professor in class, plus we have former Chicago Public School teachers, special ed teachers, students who have taught nursing, and some students are *still* teaching as volunteers — literacy for adults, knitting at the public library, for example.
And just like you, Ahnee, I look forward to being with everyone this Wednesday —

bethfinke On September 13, 2010 at 6:05 am

Funny, I think the very first thing I ever said to Myrna when she first introduced herself to me was…”I love your name!”
And I do.
Through her class essays I’ve learned that her parents owned a dress shop in Chicago while she was growing up, it was called…”Myrna Mae Frocks.” All too wonderful.

Sheila Donovan On September 13, 2010 at 9:31 am

I realize how difficult it can be to have your birthday on Sep. 11th. My nephew’s son was born on THE day, 9/11/2001. It will follow him all of his years. Life is truly a circle – his began as others ended.

Myrna is a great classmate in the memoir group.

Eldoris On September 14, 2010 at 4:30 pm

I’m just getting back to my computer today, after several days of running for Lisa but just reading Myrna’s great essay has made my day. It wasn’t just the writing, it was the connection to our class and Myrna and the others who I miss. I keep longing for the day that will hopefully return – it just isn’t right now. Love and miss y’all.

She’s 98 in dog years | Safe & Sound blog On September 5, 2014 at 8:37 pm

[…] is a writer in my memoir class. In a guest post here called when your birthday falls on September 11 she describes the reaction she gets when people at banks, at airports, or at doctor’s offices ask […]

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