Remembering 9/11

Visit the 911 September 11 2001 Memorial website for more photos.

Yesterday I barely recall what I wore or what I ate for dinner. But I remember 9-11-01 like it was this exact moment.

I was 6 months pregnant with my second son and my first son, Ryan, was about 20 months old. I woke up around 8am. My husband had already left for work. Ryan was still asleep so I sat down with my coffee and turned on the TV.

I had no idea what I was watching.

What I was seeing.

But it was on every channel.

And it was horrible.

It took me about 30 minutes to figure out that it was real.

I called my husband and asked him if he knew about it. He did, of course. He manages security at his company and they were in the throes of putting together a major security plan.

All he said to me was, "Stay inside. Don't go anywhere!"

So I did. I sat in front of the TV all day. Hugging my son.

Last year I went to New York and 'saw' Ground Zero. Or at least the fence around the giant hole in the ground. I also saw the flowers and pictures and posters that still adorn that area as well as the plaque in honor of all of the firefighters.

It still makes me feel very sad. And vulnerable. My heart literally aches thinking about it. It also makes me proud to be an America. How we as Americans bonded together like we never have before. I remember the flags flying from everyone's cars, flag pins on shirts, makeshift flags flying from freeway overpasses.

My heart goes out to everyone who lost someone on that day. May we as a country always feel this patriotism and pride. But not complacency.

And let us never forget. Ever.

And may we NEVER have to live through another 9/11.