Pausing to Remember; Promising Never to Forget

I am briefly back from my hiatus. Things are still crazy in my world, but I have always reflected on September 11th, and I couldn’t let today pass without pausing to remember.

Remembering September 11, 2001 infographic via Pinterest

The freshmen this year were in Kindergarten when 9/11 happened. Their memories, understandably, are few. Which is a blessing in my opinion, but it sometimes just reminds me how old I am at this point. But it also drives home the lesson for me that I will always need to help those I teach remember that day and those we lost.

I was telling them in my class today what the day was like, and really, the best description I have is that the sweet little glass ball I lived in was completely shattered. In that moment, adulthood truly began. The innocence and sweet little world I lived in was not in existence anymore.

While that day was so overwhelming, so tragic, so full of grief; but also full of strength and an outpouring of compassion in the days that followed. It was the catalyst for the world we live in now. I remember standing there with Gail in our residence hall room, standing side by side, shell shocked, watching our little TV and the world falling apart in front of our eyes. Literally, our little world fell apart that day. I can look back, and see exactly how the path that our country is on was laid out that day. But we didn’t know it that day. Who knew on that day we would be where we are 13 years later.

As always, I try to be extra nice to people today. Our office sponsored an event to make cards for veterans and first responders, just to say thanks. 9/11 is also a reminder for me: never forget those we lost that day, or the days that resulted from it. Never forget the families left behind. Never forget to pause and say I love you one more time. Never forget. I won’t and I will always work to make sure my students don’t as well.