9/11/01

Each person alive ten years ago has memories of the first 9/11. The anniversary brings those memories to the forefront of our minds, and I seem incapable of writing about anything else on this Sunday night.

Like so many, I thought the person who told me about planes flying into the World Trade Center was joking. When the reality set in, the rest of the day was a blur because I had to take care of many children at a school, but the days that followed are vivid and clear. Life seemed to hush or at least slow down a bit, and skies without planes was remarkable, but it was the way we interacted with one another that is the most lasting memory I have: Democrats and Republicans stood along side one another, singing “God Bless America;”  people allowed cars to turn or enter without honking their horns; and parents turned down dinner invitations to stay close to their children.

What happened?

Now our politicians are as polarized as never before in history. The pressures of a bad economy and other countless fears make us almost incapable of seeing beyond our own needs and interests. And countries that offered us complete support after the 9/11 now burn our flag.

What happened?

I am reminded of leaving a friend’s funeral with a new resolve to live a meaningful life where friends are a main focus, only to return to life as usual within a matter of weeks. How could I have forget so quickly? How could we?

Anniversaries serve many purposes, but my prayed tonight is that this one reminds us of what a tragedy did to us as individuals and as a country, and that we somehow find a way to honor and remember those who died by returning to those amazing days when we cared about others and believed in one country