Oddly, I rather like flying in this solemn anniversary. It's my little nonviolent response to the terrorists--you can't stop us from living our lives. We are stronger than you know.
God bless the survivors and the families and friends of the lost. Let them know we have not forgotten.
That was my Facebook status update this morning. I still remember every detail of that day--the instant message conversation I had with my friend and coworker who, working from home in Toronto, had on CNN and started giving me the play by play. I remember, at first, thinking it was a terrible accident with a small plane. And my heart still hurts recalling the moment when we realized it wasn't an accident. I remember being sick with fear for my father who could've easily been at the Pentagon and for my stepmother who worked in DC. I remember all the emails from family and friends asking me for assurance that I was not flying that day. I remember sending emails asking for the same thing from friends who lived and/or worked in New York. I remember the relief upon hearing none of our road warriors were on those flights, and the loosening of some of the knots in my stomach when I finally heard from my father, stepmother and friends who lived and worked in Arlington and New York (though it took a few days before I heard from all my NY friends). And I remember my heart breaking again upon hearing about the passengers on flight 93, who took on the terrorists and saved lives while losing theirs.
Living so close to Washington Dulles Airport, I found it surreal not to hear or see planes. Watching the news and the brave first responders, I kept wanting to wake up and find it was all a terrible dream. And even with sadness and fear that filled me, I wanted to get on a plane. I, immediately, wanted to defy the terrorists.
With all those vivid memories that still bring tears to my eyes and tightness to my chest, I was so happy today to see all of my friends celebrating their children born on September 11th in the years following the saddest of days in 2001. Children are born, giving the world new hope with their potential and giving us a reason to smile and cheer, even on this sad anniversary. We go on living our lives. We are stronger than we know. And if we live our lives with gratitude and love, the terrorists can never prevail.
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