September 11, 2001

I Remember:

8 years ago

Getting ready for work and sitting down to eat breakfast with my husband, when my mother in law calls and says "Turn on your TV!"

Watching on live TV as the smoking towers crumbled on the screen behind the news anchor.

First One. Then the other.

My sister calling and saying,

{speaking about my other sister who was living in DC}

"She can't get a hold of her husband.

He was most likely at the Pentagon

when it was struck"

crying as I told my husband that.

Kneeling and Praying.

For Them.

All of Them.

My mom calling a few moments later,

"He's alive. He's fine."

Barely able to tell my husband

as I choke and cry with

relief for Them

and sadness for those

whose story ended different.

Driving to work and hearing that another plane had gone down

and wondering when it would end,

and how bad it was going to be.

At the bank where I worked,

we put a TV in the lobby

and we were glued

and so were our customers.

The Friday following that Tuesday

was declared a

National Day of Mourning.

We waited in lines to donate money.

We put flags and ribbons

on cars

and our hearts.

The bank where I worked,

purchased these pins

(the one pictured above)

for all the employees.

We tied ribbons of

red, white and blue

for any customer

who donated to the cause.

We cried

and

we cried.

And we came together.

And I always wonder

what I would have done

if I were in one of those towers,

If I were on one of those planes

If my loved ones had been.

And what about

those people who were?