September 11

When I think about all the moments I have lived, there really aren't many that I can tell you in detail where I was and how I was feeling on that day. And the ones I remember are because they were big moments in my life. 

I can remember in detail mine and Ian's first kiss. 

I can remember exactly where I was when I found out my mom had cancer. I was driving. It was the only time I allowed myself to cry about it. From then on, I decided to be nothing but hopeful about the situation. 

I can remember exactly where we were when Ian proposed to me. I remember the day, what we were doing before. I remember it all. 

These memories were all personal things that happened in my life in the years surrounding 2001. And even though the events that transpired on September 11, 2001 didn't affect me personally, they still did. 

The WTC site when I visited in 2008

I remember I was getting ready for school. I can remember staring at the tv. They closed down the airports and there were rumors that terrorists were headed for California. I felt like life had changed. I almost felt like life was over, or at least life as I knew it. I didn't know if I should even go to school. I went. All we did in my classes that day was watch the news and sort of discuss what was transpiring. 

Freedom Tower being built, circa 2010

In the weeks following America became a place I was proud of. Everyone banded together. People were helping people. It was like we were all one big happy family for a season and that was a comforting way to live. But as with everything, with time those feelings subside. 

In all honesty, I don't think much about 9/11 anymore. Of course I think about it every year on the day. And in the three times I have been to NYC, it was definitely somber moments visiting the World Trade Center site, especially when they were still excavating the site. But that feeling of patriotism and us all being one big family vanished long ago...

Today Ian, the kids and I went out to lunch. At the end of our lunch, the waitress came to our table and told us that a stranger paid for our lunch. She proceeded to tell us that this stranger paid for our lunch because she wanted to bless someone on 9/11. What a great way to remember such a horrible day on our history, by blessing someone. And really, it made me feel again a little bit of that feeling that we are all one big, happy family.