Seven years ago today, I was sitting at my desk in a job I didn't love. I was anxiously awaiting the birth of my first son. He was due in three days. He was not in my body, but the anticipation was intense.
Seven years ago today, one of my co-workers came to his desk and said, "Go to CNN.com. A plane crashed into the World Trade Center." The break room TV's were turned on. Every employee watched in horror as the events continued to unfold... We tried to work as usual, but as usual was redefined. It seemed with each passing hour, there was a new horror to report. "The second tower that was hit has collapsed to the ground." "The entire building?" "Impossible." "There is video of people jumping out of windows." "Today is September eleventh, like 911. I read on a website that is significant." "There is a plane down in some field in Pennsylvania." "I heard it was in Ohio." "The first tower hit has fallen to the ground." "They closed the Sears Tower." "The Pentagon has been hit with a crashed plane."
It seemed each time someone opened their mouth a new horror or paranoia would set in shadowing the last.
Seven years ago today, a skyline changed. A country changed. A war began.
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Today, eating breakfast in the comfort of my own home, gazing at my boys looking their best because today is "picture day" at school, I couldn't help but realize that what seemed like an event that would forever stay ingrained in my mind is already becoming cloudy. As there are THOUSANDS of people that mourn the needless and innocent shed blood of their dads, moms, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, nieces, cousins and friends each year on this day, my life goes on pretty much as normal. I mourn no personal loss, but I mourn a day that seemed as though it would strongly unite our country. A country that today seems so divided and is constantly bickering amongst itself in the hype of the upcoming election. A country that is great for so many reasons. A country that has so much wealth, so much freedom, so much luxury, so much technology, so much abundance, and so much charity. Today as we should be remembering an event that changed our country in so many ways, I pray that we as Americans can unite and be proud.
I tried to teach my boys a bit today about this important date.
I told them that seven years ago today, before they were born and when Gavin was still in his birthmommy's tummy, there were some very bad men who stole airplanes and crashed them into buildings and killed lots of lots of people. This was a very sad day and we need to remember this day as a special day in thanks for our great country and for our strong army (to my little boys, army means military) and our government.
I told them that seven years ago today, before they were born and when Gavin was still in his birthmommy's tummy, there were some very bad men who stole airplanes and crashed them into buildings and killed lots of lots of people. This was a very sad day and we need to remember this day as a special day in thanks for our great country and for our strong army (to my little boys, army means military) and our government.
Gavin: Did they die?
Me: The men that drove the planes died.
Grant: You are lying.
Me: No, Grant. This is very true.
Grant: (smiling) No, it's not. You are making this up.
Gavin: So all the bad guys are dead?
Me: Well, the guys that drove the airplanes died, but their leaders didn't.
Me: Well, the guys that drove the airplanes died, but their leaders didn't.
Grant: Mommy, you are lying. You are teasing.
Me: Grant. No I'm not, sweetie. I wish I was. This was a very sad day.
Me: Grant. No I'm not, sweetie. I wish I was. This was a very sad day.
Gavin: Did our army kill their leaders?
Me: Ummm, not exactly. We tried to capture some of their leaders, too. We still try to fight to keep those people that hate our country from hurting more people. We will probably always have to because there are people that hate our country because they don't know any better.
Grant: (sticks fingers in ears for remainder of conversation)
Gavin: Will they come back to our city and hurt us?
Me: No, sweetie. You are safe. But you have to thank your army and your country for that. (under breath) At least I hope so.
And I realized - there are some things just too horrific to comprehend. And I am ever so thankful that today I still have the freedom to get dressed and get my boys on this bus like any other day on this same day that thousands of lives are mourned. Because, isn't that what we continue to fight for?
God Bless America
KEEP BELIEVING
This day is our "Where were you" moment. I'm sure there is no one of our generation that doesn't remember exactly what they were doing. I even remember that Kristi was on the runway getting ready to take off on a direct flight from Boston to Bakersfield - the exact route of one of the hijacked planes.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about everything in this post.
ReplyDeleteI still have trouble putting it into words.
ReplyDeleteIt's still hard to comprehend.
7 years. And yet it still seems like yesterday. Part of me wants it to fade a little bit. But the rest of me wants it to sting like this forever. So we never forget. So we never give up.
this gave me goosebumps. very well written. thank you!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Post. So accurate. So true. I have no idea how to explain it to my kids, but this is a good reminder to try.
ReplyDeleteEven up here in Canada, we felt stongly the effects of 9/11 and how it even changed our country, the way we run it, heightened security etc. and how many of our men and women have been sent over to Afghanistan to fight in this war. The terrorist attacks continue to take lives 7 years later by ambushes or suicide bombers as our troops fight to keep our country safe. I feel like we've lost some innocence and in so many ways have to live in more fear than previous generations. I remember where I was on 9/11 - may we never forget that day, although, like you, I find it very difficult to explain what happenend that day to my own children. I pray that they never have to see or experience something so horrific.
ReplyDeleteIt's important to remember.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I know I'll be telling my boys more about this day, when they are older... and I dread doing so. It's so sad. So senseless.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many conversations went on like yours? I had one student ask me "What happened again on this day?" But she was 4 at the time, so I understand. Other kids remember where they were. (Or maybe they've been told.)
ReplyDeleteIt still takes my breath away sometimes. In fact that photo of the firemen and the flag does that to me and is one of my absolute favorites. Thank you for posting it.