What do you do on a day like today, the tenth anniversary of a day where you remember exactly where you were, what you were doing, and how you felt? I think you have to take at least a few minutes to remember the events of the day, to reflect on the people whose lives were lost, and to think about the evil that caused September 11, 2001 to be a day that should never, ever be forgotten.
As I drove around the town today, I especially took notice of the American flags that were waving from every flagpole. I tried to be extra-nice and thoughtful to people I encountered. I took a moment this morning to remember that morning ten years ago. Tonight I watched a special on TV called "9/11 Ten Years Later". If you haven't seen it, please try to watch it. It is a first-hand account of what the very first-responders to the scene were dealing with and what they went through. It's very emotional and real.
I was talking to a fellow at work on Friday who said he thought that American's had "cauterized" their feelings about Sept. 11. You rarely see the footage of the planes crashing into the towers. You forget about the feelings of fear and later, patriotism that were prevalent in our country. It's easy to sort of put all of that away. I don't want to think about it all every day, but I think on one day, this day, you should remember all of those things.
I feel a little confused, though. I want to be respectful and thoughtful on this day, but I don't want to be maudlin or morbid either. I think what I take from 9/11 is that you find to find joy and happiness in each day because you truly don't know when something will happen that will shake your belief in everything you though.
On Sept. 11, 2001, I was getting ready for work, just like any other day. My son was asleep in my bed and everything was fine. Within an hour, I was dreading dropping my little boy off at a daycare that was across the road from the Salt Lake Airport. All I wanted was to have my family all together and hold everyone tight. At work, we all kept checking the internet for the latest information about what was happening. I remember tearing up throughout the day. I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh, what's going on here? Where will they strike next?" I remember getting ready for the Olympics and wondering if something terrible would happen there. I remember being a little freaked out the first time I flew on a plane after 9/11. I remember crying at the U2 concert in December when they played "Walk On" and dedicated it to the memory of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.
Anyway, I just wanted to take a minute to say what I had to say. Take care and be kind.
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