Can you believe it's been 6 years today since the terrorist attacks in the USA?  Maybe it's just me but it doesn't seem possible that it's been so long.  I know people often say they remember where they were and what they were doing when "important" things happen....like the assassination of JFK (I wasn't born so I don't know where I was), When Elvis Died (I don't know because I was really young), when the Spaceshuttle Challenger exploded (that I remember...I was in my classroom watching it on TV) and even the Columbia spaceshuttle disaster (I was watching it on the news as it happened).  I do remember a lot about September 11, 2001.  It's strange to think that before this happened September 11 was just another regular day of the year.  No holidays or birthdays in my family or circle of friends.  Here's what I remember:

It was a beautiful morning...cool but not at all like a "normal" September day in Michigan...it was still almost summery.  Nicole had just started at her new school and Ben was almost a month old.  I decided to drive Nicole to school that morning so that I could go in with her and make sure she got to her classroom ok.  Her teacher was Mrs. Leonard (that would change soon because they had too many students in the classrooms and had to add another class).  After dropping Nicole off, Ben and I got into the car (I still had my little red Cavalier at that time - we traded it in for a van a month later) and headed home.  I had the radio on and I heard something about a plane hitting a building in NYC...this was probably right after it happened because they still didn't know anything about what kind of plane and it was before the second one hit.  I didn't really think much of it.  I am ashamed to admit that I didn't even know what the WTC was or what the Twin Towers looked like until this day.  I figured at the time a little plane ran into a building by accident.  I was interested but not at all alarmed.  When we got home I turned on MSNBC and I was absolutely horrified by what I saw.  The second plane hit while I was watching the newscast about the first plane and it all became very clear that this was not a random accident.  The flames, the smoke and the people running and looking terrified will never leave my memory.  Ben was still very small so he nursed almost constantly so we sat all day and watched the events unfold.  I was paralyzed with fear...I wanted so badly to go get Nicole from school because I felt so unsafe and unable to protect her when she was not with me.  But I couldn't do anything.  I didn't know WHAT to do.  When the 3rd plane hit the pentagon, and then the 4th crashed down in PA...it felt as if the world was coming to an end.  I was so angry that anyone could do this to INNOCENT people.  I was afraid for my family, my friends and my country.  I called my dad who was on his way up North with Karen to see a friend and told him what I was seeing.  I remember I was the one who told him because he didn't know anything and I had to try to explain that it was two PASSENGER planes that had hit the WTC...TWO BIG PLANES, DAD.  NOT CESSNAS...LIKE BIG BIG PLANES FULL OF PEOPLE.   I think I called my dad to tell him but also because I wanted someone to tell me everything would be ok.  When the buildings started to collapse I called my dad again.  I was not a member of a church at that time...we didn't go to church until almost 3 years later but I prayed a LOT that day.   Everything I heard that day was just so bad.  You heard about people jumping to their deaths, people being crushed, people not being able to find their children, people looking for their parents, hundreds of firefighters/police officers being killed.   I know anyone who was alive at that time and lived in America  and had access to television knows what I am talking about.    My daughter was only 6 at the time and she even remembers it a little.  Her aunt Kristin lost a good friend on 9/11.  He was a firefighter.   I was not personally effected by the loss of anyone I cared about on 9/11 but I know that ever since then I have not been able to feel safe. When they took those planes and flew them into those buildings and killed thousands of innocent men, women and children they made me realize that I can't control what happens to my family.  I know I wasn't the only one on edge for months (actually years and even now sometimes) whenever I left the house.  I had a hard time even going grocery shopping for a while because I didn't know if there was going to be someone waiting there with a bomb.  Checking the mail for different biological weapons...smallpox scares etc... I know that's what the terrorists want too and it just makes me sick.   I know I'm not popular in my political views because I am a supporter of President Bush.  I DO feel safer with him as my president.  To me, in this time, the most important thing is keeping my family safe.  I feel that he is doing his best to help me with that.  If it means good men and women lose their lives (voluntarily I might add since NOONE was drafted into service) than I guess I owe them all of my gratitude.  I hate to see anyone hurt or killed in war but we are at war and until our country is safe we should be at war.   I believe 100% that if we don't get them first they will be back here killing our children.  That's what gets me - they would not hesitate to kill a child because they hate us so much.  And anyone that would harm my children is an enemy to me and as far as I'm concerned they don't deserve to be treated kindly. 

So anyway, my point is...9/11 was 6 years ago.  I remember it well and I'm sure all of you do.  It was a horrible day and it was definitely a turning point for our country.  But we also had some good come out of it...unfortunately a lot of it has died down over the 6 years...patriotism, volunteers, unity as a nation.  I miss that part of it.  But I suppose until it happens again, we will all just go on with our lives hoping it's not us next time. 

Today I will pray for the families of those lost on 9/11 or as a result of 9/11.  I will also pray for the soldiers and our leaders as they fight to keep us safe and bring peace to our world.  I am so grateful that we have a country where we can practice our religion, voice our opinions and get a good education without fearing for our lives every time we walk out of our homes. (although, I suppose we do have to be somewhat careful - there are plenty of crazy Americans, too).