Moment of Silence
Every year as this day approaches I feel a sense of malaise. This week, with so much going on in my personal life, when I wrote the date yesterday, I realized with a flip of my stomach that tomorrow (today) was September 11th.
I am part of the 9/11 generation. The Gen X'ers who had their adult lifes forever altered by the work of murderous loons seven years ago. My children will know only what they learn from history. And what I share with them.
I've written previously my thoughts and feelings on this (2007, 2006). And what strikes me the most this year ... is how far away it all feels. Seven years is an eternity in the American psyche. And we have not been attached in seven years. So maybe the threat is over.
On this day, seven years ago, I was 20 years old and living in Lubbock, Texas. I had no idea what my future held for me. And this moment seven years ago I was sitting in a class room, trying to figure out if the violence was going to stop, or if it had only just begun.
We all learned something that day. It was probably different for everyone. I learned that we are not as safe as we think we are. Even today, we are not as safe as we think we are. And I am not prepared to deal with another loss like we did that morning.
And I'm not ever going to forget that.
I am part of the 9/11 generation. The Gen X'ers who had their adult lifes forever altered by the work of murderous loons seven years ago. My children will know only what they learn from history. And what I share with them.
I've written previously my thoughts and feelings on this (2007, 2006). And what strikes me the most this year ... is how far away it all feels. Seven years is an eternity in the American psyche. And we have not been attached in seven years. So maybe the threat is over.
On this day, seven years ago, I was 20 years old and living in Lubbock, Texas. I had no idea what my future held for me. And this moment seven years ago I was sitting in a class room, trying to figure out if the violence was going to stop, or if it had only just begun.
We all learned something that day. It was probably different for everyone. I learned that we are not as safe as we think we are. Even today, we are not as safe as we think we are. And I am not prepared to deal with another loss like we did that morning.
And I'm not ever going to forget that.
Comments