V.DAY ROMANTIC STORY # 1

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The love of Lisa and Todd Beamer Lisa Beamer is a homemaker, mother and the widow of Todd Beamer, one of those who perished aboard United Airlines Flight 93, 9-11. She spoke eloquently of the "need to move on in life without hatred." Todd Beamer. Cool friend. Athletic. A huge fan of Chicago Bulls who loved his family, his wife and sons, David and Drew, more than anything else on earth. Perished at the age of 32 in the ill-fated United Flight 93 without having been able to see the birth of his third child, Morgan. With the help of Ken Abraham, a professional writer with world-class credentials, the beautiful Christ-centered love story of Lisa and Todd Beamer is masterfully woven in the book "Let's Roll", in memory of 9-11 casualty Todd, who used the phrase to mean "we're going to do what we need to do here; let's put our best foot forward." Surprised by love About 12 months before Lisa graduated with a degree in business from Wheaton College in Illinois in the early 90s, she said she began dating a guy she met in her campus. She described the guy to have some great character traits, so that they developed a relationship. A few months into this relationship, they got engaged. Yet, surprisingly, deep down, she knew that for all of his admirable qualities, the man and her were not right for each other. Besides, she didn't want to marry at 22 or 23. Moreover, she realized that both of them needed more time to mature emotionally. She knew she had to call off the wedding. Before that, Todd sat down in the seat next to Lisa on the first day of the Senior Seminar at Wheaton. But their contact was extremely limited, Lisa recounted. He smiled casually, and Lisa noticed his relaxed manner. Because the seminar was in a roundtable discussion, Lisa got the opportunity to observe Todd as he interacted with other students. "Soon, I realized he was actually rather humble, soft-spoken, bright, and articulate. I was particularly impressed by his willingness to listen to the opinions of others and let them take the lead in the discussion," Lisa said. The two became sort of partners in class, sharing ideas on projects and calling each other about upcoming assignments. Definitely impressed with Todd, Lisa was a little dismayed that she hadn't gotten to know him earlier in their college years. She regarded their relationship as a budding friendship. She wouldn't know until much later that Todd's thoughts were more on the romantic side. But because she was dating someone else at that time, there was no place in her life for Todd Beameror so she thought. For a while, Lisa was quite content living by herself. She had just come out of a serious relationship, so that she wasn't looking for another one. She was just 22 and had a cute apartment, a car and a new job. What else in life did she need, she asked. Little did she know that Dave Ochs, a friend of Todd, told the latter of her having broken off from her engagement, and that shortly after that, another friend, Steve Hellier suggested to Todd to ask her out. Todd came to Lisa's apartment to pick her up for their first date on November 2, 1991. From their first date, it was clear to Lisa that Todd was a guy who had a clear focus on life. Lisa knew Todd cared for his family, too. He spoke often with his sisters and parents, and Lisa saw that as a good thing. She thought, "Most likely, he will one day love his own wife and children in a similar way. This guy could be a keeper." On a November 24 which is Todd's birthday, the two were talking about their future when Todd suddenly asked, "Well, would it be so bad to be my wife?" hearkening back to the question he'd asked when they first started dating. Todd pulled out an engagement ring and placed it on her finger. Todd later teased Lisa as to why he wanted to get engaged on his birthday rather than on Thanksgiving or Christmas. "If we get engaged on a holiday, the ring is considered a gift. So if something happens and we break up, I can't get it back!" There was no danger of him getting the ring back, Lisa said, as she was head over heels in love with Todd Beamer.

Pain on 9-11

September 11. Lisa turned the TV on and saw the Twin Towers enveloped in a huge plume of smoke. A second plane had just smashed onto one of the towers, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it ablaze. Commentators described the scene in shocked, pensive tones. Lisa stood in front of the TV, petrified by the horrific sight. Before long the newscasters reported that two planes - an American Airlines flight and a United Airlines flight - were missing and might have been the ones that hit the towers. Shortly after noon, United Airlines called. "Mrs. Beamer, my name is Nick Leonard from United Airlines. I'm sorry to inform you that your husband was a passenger aboard Flight 93 that has crashed in Pennsylvania," the call registered.

I love you (as recorded)

One question nagged Lisa: If others were making calls aboard the flight, why hadn't Todd called her? He lived with a cell phone practically attached to his ear. If others found the means and the time to call, why hadn't Todd? Then Nick Leonard, the family liaison with United Airlines, called again to inform Lisa that it was clear Todd had been actively involved in communicating with someone on the ground, providing information about the hijackers in hopes that somehow he and some of the other passengers could devise a plan to thwart the terrorists' efforts. As Nick relayed the operator's summary, Lisa scrawled in staccato form: "...10 passengers in front, 27 in backwhat do they want? Ransom?Todd completed the Lord's Prayerasked Jesus to help him - knew he wasn't going to make it - ...told about family, made a promise to call Lisa to tell that he loved his family and wife and children very muchTodd said, are you ready, let's roll - put phone down but never came back oncould hear screaming in background..."

The Shanksville crash site

The plane had come down in an open field, an area that had once been a coal strip mine and since had been reclaimed, graded, and replanted. Silently Lisa thanked God that compared to the horrific scenes of devastation at Ground Zero and the Pentagon, the Shanksville crash site seemed almost serene. A makeshift altar area had been constructed from several bales of hay. As her special mementos of Todd, Lisa left on the hay-bale memorial altar a Chicago Bulls cap, some pictures of Todd and the boys, a container of M&M's (one of Todd's favorite candies), and notes from family members expressing love and pride of Todd. And this note she didn't only leave on the site but she has been living up to today: "To Todd, my husband, my everyday hero. Thank you for loving God, loving us, and always playing hard. Thank you for teaching me patience and mercy. I love you and promise to finish our journey well. See you later"

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Wow! How many of us can love with a love like that? If you want a copy of the book "Let's Roll" by Lisa Beamer as told to Ken Abraham, visit OMF Bookstore, Ramos street. Costs PhP875. I tell you, it is a precious find. If you wish to borrow, come to my workstation and sign up on my borrower's log. It pays to be in love, all day, everyday!

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Share your views about love and your love story and get published on the V-Day. Crank up my email addy: [email protected]. Or text me at 0921-5323616. Join our TF Heart2Heart and Banat News Love Note Writing Contest and win fabulous prizes. For previous articles, visit www.pinaymangatkatay.blogspot.com. Thanks!