nmah4161.xml

nmah4161.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I remember September 11, 2001 very well. My sisters' words still ring in my ears. "Sis, we are officially under attack..." was the message that came through loud and clear from the receiver in my hand as I watched the horrific footage that bore witness to that fateful morning. Such anguish, sorrow and suffering. Uncertainty and heroism filled the air as I watched the movement around me ... both in media and in the flesh. How surreal it all seemed. I have survived hurricanes, storms, flood damage, having children, divorces, loved ones passing on and the ravages of life ... and now ... this thing has touched me forever. I have never witnessed needless death on such a scale before. So many lives lost. So many families changed overnight. I remember thinking in the midst of it all that my brother would soon be called into action and my concern for him became very real. I felt so hurt by what I had seen ... holding my breath hoping that they would find more survivors ... but mostly I felt the loss of those families. My heart hurt for them so much. How many kisses and hugs not shared that morning. Never to be shared again. Dreams lost in the dust. Little league games never to be enjoyed. Grandchildren never to be born. Memories lost. So many things that "would get done later" wouldn't get done ever. So sad. Too many questions. My own "to do" list seemed so petty now. And I see this man responsible for it all ... smiling - happy - proud - and free. How can he be so happy? How does he sleep at night knowing what he has done? I pray to the heavens for those families and those souls that have been changed by his actions ... that they find peace somehow. I also pray that justice will be swift from the heavens for this man and those that helped him in his cruelty.

I have always tried to live my life in such a way that "If it is something that will matter in 10 years, then it is worth addressing ... otherwise, there are more worthwhile things to focus on." When this happened, I changed that to "If I am alive to care about it in 10 years, then it is worth addressing ... otherwise, there are more worthwhile things to focus on." A year later, it just reads "I may not be here in 10 years ... so I focus on the little things."

September 11th taught us that every moment is important ... to cherish them. It also taught us we should think like children and act like adults ... we should forget our differences, find our similarities, play nicer together and be fair. Children are not born with an understanding of religion, color, race, gender, wealth, status, power or property - they respond with their heart and their needs are so simple.

Yes I did ... and do ... fly a flad for America. September 11th only strengthened my pride in being an American.