September 11, 2013

Twelve years ago, everyone's lives changed in ways we never could have imagined.  I was pregnant with my first child, who was due in just over 2 weeks (he ended up being born 3 days later, amid all the uncertainty and chaos).  My mom was coming to stay and was on a plane waiting to take off when all planes in the country were grounded.  She made it from Chicago to Minnesota that day, through sheer force of will and determination.  My sister made it the day my son was born.  I have no idea how, since no planes were flying yet.  If I ever doubt that my family loves me and cares for me, all I have to do is remember that time.

Bigger is this:  my children have never known a time when our country was not at war, ever.  All the safety precautions, which still seem so unnatural to me, are completely normal to them.  They do not know what it is like to not live with the shadow of an attack looming over them.  It saddens me that my children have grown up with the concern of terrorists being such a part of their lives, they don't question it.  My children are young, and yet they know what a terrorist is and what to do if an attack occurs. 

On the other hand, I am proud of how our country pulled together after the attacks.  Suddenly, it didn't matter if you were a democrat or a republican; we were American.  We helped each other.  Our sense of community was strengthened.  Our compassion was allowed to show.  It is horrible that it took a horrendous tragedy to remind us of what it means to be Americans, but we were reminded.  Now, if only we could remember that lesson, without the tragedy, to me, that would be a win over terrorism.