Never Forgotten
If These Heels Could Talk they would say that "most things that we remember often are things that were triggered by some life changing experience." It can be a tragic event or a happy event. No matter what the event was you can always remember the time, place, surroundings, people involved and the outcome. It's forever carved in our brain.
I can't remember what I was doing last week at 8:46 a.m but I certainly know what, when and where I was fifteen years ago at 8:46 a.m.
I was sitting on the couch feeding my one month old new born and flipping the channels. I was sleep deprived, hormonal, tearful yet overjoyed all at the same time. I remember thinking how I would love just three hours of uninterrupted sleep. Jacob had hit a growth spurt and was eating what seemed like every thirty minutes. I felt like a heifer with ten calves wanting to eat all the time. Moms know what I mean.
Then I stopped on the news channel and saw the absolute unthinkable. I saw where a plane had hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center and I remember thinking this is ridiculous what idiot can't fly a plane without hitting a building. It still wasn't clear what was happening. So as with any curious person I stayed glued to the TV. Then at 9:03 a.m. I saw another plane hit the South Tower and immediately knew, "this ain't good."
The media starting chiming in with all the details. I felt in my heart an immediate concern for people that I've never met and probably never would have met and for a state I had never visited. I saw as the buildings collapsed. I was in complete shock. I was furious. I know how I would have felt in that situation and can only imagine that emotion being amplified a million times. Because really I might think I know, but until I live it I don't.
As with every other red-blooded American I spent the next weeks in anger, guilt, remorse, and disbelief. I never felt fear because once you feel fear then the enemy has won.
I know that as messed up as things seem sometimes, I still live in the most beautiful country in the world. I can wear, say, worship, live, drive, and become whatever I want because of our Freedom.
The thousands of people that died that day was tragic and so unnecessary. History is present to teach us all a lesson in order to improve our future. If we watch such an event and take away nothing then that in itself is tragic.
There are thousands of men and woman that put their lives at risk daily so that we may go about our lives. Police Officers, Fire Fighters, EMTs, Servicemen and Woman work diligently to serve and protect and often lose either their mind or life in the process. Let us not forget. And I thank all that serve and protect. (Even those that issue my traffic citations) I shall not forget this and I thank you all.
I remember and think of the families that lost someone. Each life lost and each life lived had a purpose. We will never know all the stories and sometimes we only know ours. I know mine.
I no longer felt sleep deprived or hormonal after what I watched. I no longer wished for just a few hours more sleep. I actually thanked God that I was given another day to hold, love and feed my precious new born.
And now fifteen years later that precious newborn is driving and I am learning more each day how to continue to appreciate this life that I am given. I appreciate those moments with all three of my children because I know that at any minute my time could be up. I just hope that memories will Never Be Forgotten.
