September 11

Before I dash off to the gym (lucky that I have the freedom to do such a thing), I would like to post a brief remembrance to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. They say you never forget where you were or what you were doing during such traumatic event.

I was at the dentist's office (with Jack). The dentist, while finishing up our routine cleanings, turned up the television in their break room so we could hear what was transpiring on the CNN feed.

Then we went our separate ways to work. I was an accountant at the time (that's pretty traumatic, too, as I hated my job situation) and remember sitting at a red light on Edison Lakes Parkway (where my office was located) when the live feed that took over all the local radio stations announced that the first tower had collapsed.

I rushed inside, threw my purse in my desk, and joined my co-workers at a television hastily set up in the Marketing office. Shell shocked, we all watched as the fire consumed the second tower and it, too, collapsed. In silence, we took in the awful reality displayed on the television. My then-boss came through and tried to disband the crowd huddled around the television; he didn't want people to think his employees were slacking off. They disbanded alright, leaving the office to go pick up their kids from school. Work ceased to hold any meaning and we were all too focused on the blessing of American freedom that we thought would never be attacked...and what really matters in times like that are your family and friends...

From a prayer offering on September 13, 2001:

We pray today that from the ashes will rise a new spirit of beauty and unity in America. Already, all across this nation our hearts have been knit together into a new tapestry of one America. Because of this tragedy, we have been bound together by a silver chord of hope and brotherhood and sisterhood. What was meant to drive us apart has really drawn us together.

May we always remember.