I don't remember why I was watching television on that early morning. Perhaps JB had phoned me to tell me what was happening. Two of the planes, including American Airlines Flight 11, were out of Boston, where I lived, so early on this was a local story. I called Jessica at work."Jess, something terrible is happening"
"I know, Mom. Our people are on that plane. We're meeting in the lobby to find out who".
(Pause). "It could be me, Mom".
I've kept a list of their names. And their ages, all women: 32, 32, 30, 27, 41, 33, 44. I know who left silly scribbled notes to their kids and husbands that morning before they left for the West Coast business trip. I know who left frantic phone messages while in the air during the last hour.. I know about the youngest passenger, a two year old girl, whose parents and picture are framed at my hairdressers' because they were her friends. I know how the second plane slammed into the second tower because I saw it from my living room. I know the cheesy hotel where 3 men slept the night before they murdered because it was right down the street from my house.
The losses could have been anyone, and in a way it was. So today I pause from my petty joys and mundane complaints and remember how incredibly, totally, magnificantly precious life is. I pause with eternal thanks that there is not an absent seat at the dinner table because of September 11th.
And I pray for a hard sought and hard earned solution to hatred born of ignorance.
a beautiful post, kj.
ReplyDelete~ruby
ReplyDeletethank you, ruby. i hear from you on sacred days, it seems, and i like that..
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible and sad day...
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it must be to speak the language of the angels, with no words for hate and a million words for love!
- The Angels' Little Instruction Book-
oh, sidney....
ReplyDeleteYesterday there was a lot of attention also in the Netherlands for this very sad day 6 years ago. I remember our absolute unbelief while looking at the television where we could see the planes flying into the WTC. This is not true, this is a very bad film, I said to my husband. But it was the horrible reality. I knew the world was changing that moment.
ReplyDeleteA very touching post. I was having a hard day yesterday, I won't list the reasons, but reading your post last night reminded me to enjoy being alive, and grateful for those around me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen Ces? I fear something fishy happened to her.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. And that is what I meant about not having a problem with commemorating the day, and the losses, but also looking ahead to a solution and to peace.
ReplyDeletewieneke, the world changed and opportunity for commonality was lost with it (my opinion). i pray for more peaceful solutions.
ReplyDeleterm, ces is always up to something fishy. except now she's
"peppering" and stewing things up at the same time.
i hope your hard day has softened... :)
cs, yes, i agree. you've made a strong and important point.
You won't believe this, but what happened on that 9/11 really hit us over here in Belgium. I remember the day as if it was yesterday, my office was then on the 15th floor of the World Trade Centre in Brussels. My wife phoned me and said: 'Get out of there, terrorists are attacking the world trade centres'. Some time after we left the building and formed a silent human chain round the WTC area in Brussels. I was interviewed by our national TV, it seems that what I said hit my little country like a bomb, friends called me that day and the whole week to thank me for voicing what a lot of them felt.
ReplyDeletepeter, i would like to know what you said....
ReplyDeleteWe should always remember and never forget.
ReplyDeleteNice, KJ. Very touching.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, KJ. It's hard to believe it has been six years ... and it still hits me right in the heart to read the stories. I remember being alone, 6 mos. pregnant, unable to get a hold of Eli, and feeling like the whole world was on fire. And the skies were so, so quiet ...
ReplyDeleteI don't know how anyone could ever forget.
ReplyDeleteI was already in a stupor when it happened because two days earlier I had to have my dog of 16 years put to sleep - the first pet I had to have that done to. Seems it has been one personal loss and national or international tragedy after another. I haven't been too fond of this decade, but you are right: Life is precious and there is much to be thankful for.
(((Hugs))))
ReplyDeleteI too believe the world changed that day. We were suffering in Australia and helping victims from Bali Bombings before the 11th (Bush wouldn't help). That morning, my eldest but young boy at the time jumped onto our bed sobbing the world was blowing up! It did.
ReplyDeleteAand again, you have managed to bring tears to my eyes because you bring the whole episode back to basics.
ReplyDelete