And then, everything changed.
Like most people when the tragedy unfolded, I was shocked and saddened by the horrific events.
The conversation was lighthearted and fun, per usual for the 38-year-old married father of two.
He started by singing a song to Christa and getting her instantly to smile.
From there, the phone was passed to her 6-year-old brother, Mick.
Everyone on that plane would hear the beauty of a father Michael Horrocks signing to his children.
It was a moment of pure joy and love shared betweenevery single passengeron that flight.
Imagine it was you.
There were also numerous examples of compassion and love shown towards the family.
An Aunt moved in full-time to assist with the day-to-day dynamics a young family requires.
Generous Americans donated graciously to the children’s education fund.
Meals, thoughtful messages, memories of Michael, hope and overall love came pouring the family’s way.
Both faith and faith in humanity were very present in the days after 9/11.
Still, it was obviously an extremely distressing time most people couldn’t ever be able to comprehend.
Mir was essentially in shock and some days struggled to get out of bed.
Christa, basically overnight, was forced in many ways to end her childhood and become essentially an adult.
Mick would at times struggle with the enormity of the devastation.
The first year was for sure the most anguishing for everyone.
Bruce Springsteen was always a big staple in the Horrocks' home.
The music was cathartic and offered a tremendous source of solace.
The day was gone before it started.
The entire song gives all the vibes of…hope.
It was part of what saved them.
Just thinking of what was going through the minds of that young family will bring me to tears.
Mir became a widow at 36-years-old with a 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.
I’m in my late-30’s right now with two young children.
Mir remarried to a wonderful, kind soul with 2 amazing children who also entered the family.
This entire family is absolutely amazing and should never, ever be defined by this horrific day.
Hope, faith, gratitude and love will always win in the end."
The Horrocks (now Horrocks-Isenberg) family are the definition of selfless in every sense of the word.
Unfortunately, seemingly every single time we tried to see them something would come up.
But life, uh, finds a way.
Sitting there on that Thursday night getting the fam settled back home, everyone was beyond exhausted.
And I knew exactly what she was talking about.
If anything, for us to escape a bit.
We definitely needed a night.
And a night was certainly had.
It’s safe to say the evening was incredible from the jump.
All gas, zero breaks.
One after another for 3-4 hours.
But then, the band went kinda quiet for the first time all night.
you’ve got the option to tell Bruce was up to…something.
Absolutely flabbergasted to the point my knees started to buckle.
I turned to my wife and say, “Oh my God…it’s Michael.”
(Setlist Note:Rescheduled from 8/18/23.
Now, up until that very moment, I wasn’t exactly the biggest God guy in the world.
There’s zero question in my mind Bruce changed to that song for Christa.
Not a single doubt.
There were simply too many coincidences for it not to be that.
It was a complete full circle, lifetime moment.
If I could (responsibly) put all the money in the world on it, I would.
Not even a second thought.
How am I so certain?
We knew he was not only going to be good, but perfect.
Time passes and people naturally start to move on from the events and feelings from that morning.
It’s even become pretty much accepted to make light or a punchline of the day.
But just understand for literally thousands of families who were affected that day, it never ends.
Christa was 9-years-old when she lost her Dad.
Her brother, Mick, was left fatherless at 6.
Her mother, Miriam, widowed at 36.
Her grandparents lost their child and her Uncles and Aunt lost their brother.
Our children will never meet the amazing man that is their paternal grandfather.
RIP Michael Horrocks.I promise your grandchildren will Never Forget and love will always rise above.
After all, the cream always rises to the top.
