A Day to Remember and Celebrate Life

 

Today marks the 11th anniversary of September 11th, and the 28th birthday of my dear husband.

I was in 8th grade, walking into my homeroom class. I remember looking up at the TV and thinking it was some kind of a movie preview. To this day I cannot wrap my head around the amount of hatred in this world, and what leads people to commit such acts of violence. In all honestly, I don’t think I will ever understand it.

Today, I’d just like to say thank you to those that rushed into help, for those that gave up their lives, and for all those that stood up to fight terrorism across the globe.

As a nation, we’ll never forget 9/11, however we’re able to heal and move on. Today, my parents are getting on a London bound flight to go visit family in Europe. Today, they fly with full confidence that nothing will happen, however they too remember the significance of the day.

Today, D turns 28. It was his 17th birthday 11 years ago. He remembers what he wore, where he parked his car, and what he did that day. I don’t think he will ever have another birthday that sticks in his head as much as the one 11 years ago did.

Today, I’ll remember all the victims and heroes as well as their families. Today, I will think about my parents and check on their flight as they make a 10 hour flight across the ocean. Today, I will celebrate my husband’s birthday with  a taco bar and a Batman cake.

9/11…A day to remember and to celebrate

My husband was born on September 11th. In 2001, he was turning 17, and was a Senior in high school. He can describe in detail, every single aspect of that day to the parking spot he parked his 3000GT in, to the shirt he was wearing, to the meal he had. He remembers in vivid details every minute of the fateful day.

I was in the 8th grade. I remember walking into my homeroom class late, and watching as the second plane hit the towers. I remember that it didn’t register at first, and I thought it was some other part of the world. I don’t remember what I was wearing or what I ate that day, but I remember coming home to my dad who never left for work. He was glued to the TV, trying to figure out exactly what was happening.

Like many Americans, I will never forget 9.11. I will never forget what it brought on, or what it means to us. Raven posted this today, and the song rings true to me just as it does to her and millions of other Americans. I’d like to add another song to the list.

We will never forget 9.11. But I hope that we can celebrate the lives of the heroes who stood up and fought back. Who gave their lives to save those they could. I hope we can remember and thank the crew and passengers of United flight 93. But above all I hope that we can remember that if we live in fear of our lives the terrorists will win. We fight back not just by going to war, but doing our part as FREE Americans, and showing that we are not afraid. We can raise from the rubble and fight back, and we will.