The Red Cardinal

In my darkest hour, a red cardinal rested nicely on a tree branch in my back yard. It flew across the yard as I stared at it, making sure it was a red cardinal, and then and only then did I know everything would be all right.

I was worried, so worried, I knew he would get out alive, oh please let him get out alive. But somehow the cardinal gave me a strange sense of relief.

Have you ever seen anything so beautiful, so vivid red, so delicate as a red cardinal? There's nothing on God's green earth as red as this bird, so beautiful, so peaceful, so forceful, yet so little.

We first heard from a panicked Dawn at 12:30, gun shots, Gary is holed up in his hotel room with gun shots in the hall. I call SOS and they are no help. Dawn is about to board for a 17 hour flight. She's not the type to sit still on any flight and is worried to death. How could this happen, she was just there.

I'm able to speak to Gary, he's whispering, he's scared. He's hiding in the bathroom. I've been to many hotel's --the bathroom is right up against the entry door. Is this the best place to hide?
We watch CNN feverishly and can't get off the computer. No one knows who did this but its 9-11 all over again and Gary is trapped in the Taj hotel, room 402. I tell him help is on the way and SOS has his # is will call him.

I go to pick up my son Gary at the Summit train station and every time Gary's name flashes up on the mobile I jump, and wonder which Gary it is. Is it Gary Chan or Gary Lim, my son almost home, or my friend trapped? There is no time to panick, I need to see my son.

Bombs, explosions, hold on, don't run outside, they have hostages and I don't want you to be one of them. Kim calls our security and they are on it. I text with Gary all afternoon and I relay as much as I see on CNN and FOX. They are targeting Americans, don't speak English, pretend you don't speak English if they capture you.

He sends a text-- huge explosion and he is scared. He sends me big hugs, but I know there is no reason to worry. The commando's are there and he will be rescued soon.

I try not to scream out and cry when I see the flames on the dome, after all I know everything will be all right. I suggest he look at the floor plan on the back of the door in case he has to run. Please keep your shoes on and your passport and $ in your pocket. He thinks this is a good idea and I am relieved when I get his reply right away.

He has jumped out the window as of 6pm and is hiding with some other folks. How could the police not have seen people jump out the window? He is surrounded by terrorists.

The phone rings and I think its Charlene, shes clamoring for information. BUT I JUMP FOR JOY WHEN I SEE GARY LIM'S NAME POP UP AND I KNOW HE'S SAFE. "I'm out".............I jump up and down and scream and yell. I always knew he'd get out.

Today I wonder why I'll get to eat my dark meat and sweet potatoes with lots of brown sugar and butter while hostages still sit in the Taj and Oberoi. But at least I know Gary is home, and somehow I can't help but think the red cardinal came to see me for a reason.