Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for September 11, 2012

Send a gift, Cathy. Don’t go! Good morning lightenup and the rest of the Cathy nuts.

Considering it’s the bride’s day who’s going to notice if Cathy is elegently outdoorsy or buck nekkid? Well, maybe a few but, seriously?

Morning Susan I should be sleeping now but I was making tonight’s dinner for Billy. Morning lightenup busy mom. Good morning Shyygirl27 nice to have company this morning. :-) Hello fellow Cathyites far and wide. Now it’s time to sleep for a while.

Nothing will lift Cathy’s spirits, so good luck with that. Besides, she has her mom to (over)console her.“Elegant outdoorsy” is such a baloney dress requirement. Cathy should just wear what she normally wear, and make sure she doesn’t wear spike heels. They would just get stuck in the ground.Good morning, Shyygirl27 and Aaron! So glad to see you both this morning!Good morning, Susan and legaleagle! Hello to the rest of the crew… GsMom, KFG, Billy, rgcviper, lindz.coop, hendelca, Mona, serenasakitty, kittycatpawsare, gmforde, soonergal, lippyfish, Mai Tai, Willi Nilli, mollie, AnonaMona, Bronzepony, simpsonfan2, tegm, catsarge10, BJIllistrated, ncalifgirl58, Molly mcgee, Teresa and all the other Cathy nuts rolling around here today!Always remember what happened on 9/11/01! Despite our differences, we are all one today.

Thank you lightenup. Yes, never forget 9/11. As for Cathy, it’s all about her. Nothing else matters. lol

That coat . . . wouldn’t lift mine.

Joint message from Gabe (this was his idea, btw), Billy, and Aaron

Gabe: Sept 11th looms large today, for the heroes and the lost. We three will put our thoughts there for a time. I will then turn my thoughts inward to the only heroes I really ever known. Here is our personal long list of 15 hearts and souls of love and caring. These are in order of their appearance on June 4th, the day after our accident:

 Gator007Meg LocklearserenasakittylightenupSusan Newmanwilli nillisaucy1121BJIllistratedFinny GirlGretchen’s Mom (Mom!)hendelcalindz.cooprgcviperkittycatpaswareJennifer Coulter

Billy: A kind word or three brought Gabe and Aaron out of a very hard time. We know it took little effort for you all to compose your wishes. It’s what people do when a member of the community is hurt, or worse. Anyone who believes a kind word is not a medicine in its own right is sadly mistaken.

Aaron: I was in NYC on September 12th to forever, volunteering my skills, such as they were then, to help the hurt and the family of those who lost someone special. I’m forever humbled knowing how kindness works. Even in times of unconsciousness I firmly believe that the wounded hear a great deal. Billy whispered YOUR words of kindness to Gabe and me in post-surgery recovery and in hours to follow. We’re back to work caring for those who need us, though through small measure of our own doing, compared to those who reached out.

Gabe: Thank you for being there along the way. Do the same for others in need. It cost nothing but a moment in time that lasts forever.

Billy: Friend Aaron and Gabe wrote their parts last night at work. I’ve come home for lunch to post this early enough for you to see.

To all of those that were unfortunate to lose loved ones on that day 11 years ago now…we will never forget. To Billy, Aaron and Gabe I think of what you went through this summer and send you all best wishes for the coming months. To us all be a little kinder to everyone today…then watch kindness come back to you!!

To Billy, Aaron and Gabe – I am glad to have helped even a tiny bit. Your thanks, although very much appreciated, are not really required – trying to give encouragement and giving best wishes are what friends (even online ones) do for each other. I know it is rather early in the day for me to comment. I normally scan quickly through the comics and comments in little bits through the day while I wait for the computer to catch up to me but your comments deserved an immediate reply. Is it ever hard to compose a message when your eyes are full of water. Must be really dusty in my office today.

Elegant / Outdoorsy …hmmm…how about a little black dress and hiking boots, topped off with ski goggles, feather earrings, and a tiara?

I’ve had the privilege of viewing the waterfall memorial in NYC. It is magnificent.

As Ellen says every day at the end of her show, “Be kind to one another.” A simple variation on the golden rule, and there are really no better words to live by.

I am grateful for many things today, including my Cathy friends!

Cathy’s outrageous behavior over an ex-boyfriend’s wedding where it appears as though she wants to outshine the bride is just too much for me on such a solemn occasion as today so I’ll just leave my comments regarding today’s strip to this one (long) sentence. Except for one more thing . . . AACK!!!!!

Aaron & Gabe: As paramedics and firefighters, you are TRUE heroes! What would any of us do without you — and people like you — when our lives (and homes) need saving?!?! We COULDN’T!!!!!!!!!! You’ll both always have friends here who love, support and care about you!!!!! Hope you’re feeling better and better with each passing day!!!

Good afternoon, lightenup, lightenupjr., lil’lightenup, Dr. K.F.G., Susan, lindz.coop, rgcviper, gmforde, serenasakitty, kittycatpawsare, hendelca, Gator007, legaleagle48, mollie05, AnonaMona, catsarge10, millie p, soonergal, Bronzepony, Molly mcgee, simpsonfan2, Shyygirl27, Violet Bay, AndiJ, BJIllistrated, ncalifgirl58, summerdog, ruizuno1, Wolf Emperor, FinnyGirl, ellisaana, marmar in MI, J. Short and all the REST of the “Cathy” fanatics joining us here today. As always, it’s really great to “see” you all and if you’re new here . . . WELCOME TO CATHY’S NUTHOUSE!!!!! GLAD YOU’RE JOINING IN ON ALL THE FUN!!!!! ;-)

In honor of all the brave men, women and children we so sadly lost 11 years ago today . . . and for all the first-responders, like Aaron, who put their lives on the line that day — and every day afterward until the job was done — we thank you, we love you and we’ll never forget . . .

Dr. Billy: As someone working tirelessly to help find the cure for cancer someday . . . you’re my hero too!!!!! :-)

Hi Cathyites!!AnonaMona — Amen!!Gabe, Aaron & Billy — I’m speechless!! So glad that everyone is still there to do the important work that all of you do. Never thought I had played any part in it. Also glad that prayers were answered, folks have recovered, and Billy, I’m always with you on the finding a cure venture (yet another friend awaiting breast cancer surgery). At least they are starting to acknowledge that some of the cancers among the first responders may have been caused by the materials they inhaled on that horrific day. Let’s hope they get decent care.

In response to today’s comic:Yup—I called it before visiting the “Cathy” page tonight …

… when I said to myself, “Eye-roll time”.

And sure enough …

@BillyThank you for such a nice message. I will read it more thoroughly tomorrow when I have more time. For now, it’s off to bed.

I don’t need a thank you you three are the heroes.Hi to my cathy family.Today is a very sad day a day we all will never forget.My heart goes out to all of the people who lost loved ones live will never be the same it touch us all.Aaron and Gabe there’s no way to thank you both for everthing you men do for us you put your lives on the line everytime you are out there for people you don’t know because you both care so much for others you two are true heroes.Dr.Billy I’m so gateful to you.My Dad died from cancer and my sister had cancer and a very wonderful and long time friend died from cancer my husband’s friend and mine.Billy you are a hero to me because of what you do to find a cure for cancer i can’t thank you enough.Words from a very wise man can’t we all just get along?Love to all the cathy nuts your the best. : )