Yesterday before I left for work, I sat mesmerized in front of the TV watching as the 7th miner was lifted from a 1/2mile beneath the surface of the earth. I sat, tears in my eyes as he hugged his wife and daughter. I listened to CNN as Kiran Chetry fought back tears to continue with her narrative.While at work,I occasionally took glances at the web checking on the miners status. Once home, I again clicked on CNN to see number 22 lifted from the bowels of the earth. I was amazed, by these people working to rescue the poor trapped men who had been underground for 69 days. It amazed me that each time one was pulled to safety, they amount of enthusiasm was as if he was the first. The way they, and the crowd went crazy with"Chi, Chi, Chi...le, le, le. It was an amazing sight to see, I made sure that Sophie watched, so one day she can remember this fantastic moment.
One man however, stood out the most, the Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. A few things about him really made wonder about our government. First off, he did an interview with Diane Sawyer, were he said something along the lines, it is not the time to place blame, but time to pull together. Wow, we could have used him during the BP oil spill and Katrina. He said that what is most important is to come together and do what needs to be done, what is more important self or rescue? When the interview was finished, he said, "Diane, thank you." They showed this man greeting each and every miner coming up, giving each one the biggest bear hug. At first I thought he was a relative, but later realized other wise. He, however, treated each as if they were his family member. From the first to the last. Oh the last.....
I was lucky enough to see the last man come up. The foreman of the shift. He had volunteered to be last man out. It was for sure a Kleenex moment. Even the President (Chilean) had tears in his eyes. The cheers where the loudest for this man. He also received the longest hug from the President. 
They conversed, the President told him him shift was finally over. They talked a bit more, sang the Chilean national anthem, hugged again. Talked a bit more. Than he did an amazing thing... he stated "Go and see your daughter Noella" OMG... the President knew the miner's daughters' name. I could not ever see that happening here. He had become one of each miners family. This of course made me cry even more.
Amazing... how he had stood next to the mine shaft were the Phoenix had lifted out each and every man from the center of the earth. He had hugged each man, gave kind words of encouragement, than Thanked each one. WOW, President Obama only visited the Gulf Coast during the BP disaster a few times, for what seemed like basically photo opps. Sad...
OK, so Chile is only a sliver the size of the US, but that does not matter. For the President to know the name of this man's daughter. I bet Pres Obama could not even tell you name of the men who perished in the Sago Mine Disaster, let alone their children. You Rock President Pinera.
One image that keeps coming back in my mind... when they took the shot from inside the capsule, the light at the end of the tunnel. It really looked as if they were going to the heavens. I guess that would be appropriate. The miners stated that there were actually 34 men down there, not 33. The last ones name being God.
