Where Were You ...?
September 11, 2001
While I do remember vividly where I was and what I was doing, I've come to realize that it really doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter where I was, or where you were. It matters where they were, the innocents who lost their lives as a result of that series of horrible, senseless acts. Thousands died at ground zero, the Pentagon, and where planes were diverted and crashed, which saved an untold number of other lives. Many more were injured and will bear lifelong scars. Life as we knew it changed forever.
Sometimes I feel that those killed in that cowardly act of terrorism are the lucky ones; their pain is gone and they're likely much better off than the rest of us left behind to relive that day. Women lost husbands. Men lost wives. Children lost mothers and fathers. Parents lost children. We lost firefighters and policemen, pilots and businessmen, teachers and students. We all lost someone or know someone who did, and more importantly, we lost something.
America lost confidence that she's the greatest nation in the land, capable of defending herself against any enemy. We lost the knowledge that our shores are impenetrable, that we are safe from harm within our borders. We lost trust in our fellow man, and hold suspect anyone that doesn't look like us.
We're still losing. We're losing men and women sent to fight the war on terror (Marines Dead in Afghanistan). We're packing up our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and sending them off to fight a war that most don't understand, against an enemy that can't be seen, a battle that likely can't be won.
Yet, we move on, as best we can. We make coffee in the morning, bundle kids off to school, hug spouses heading off to work and then go about our daily routine. Take the dog to the vet, pick up the dry cleaning. Pay the bills, balance the checkbook. It's what we do - life goes on.
With all that has happened since 9/11, Americans have since picked themselves up by the bootstraps and continued to march. Yes, we were sucker-punched and went down hard, but we didn't stay there. We still have our moments, some days worse than others and I daresay that this anniversary is one of them. Yes, we remember, but must focus instead on where we're going.
And never again allow an unknown enemy to give us cause to ask 'where were you when ...?'
Published by Marie Anne St. Jean - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
A Top 1000 Content Producer for the last three years, Marie Anne is a retired U.S. Marine whose weapons of choice are now crochet hook and pen. When not writing for Yahoo! sites such as YCN! Voices, Sh... View profile
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36 Comments
Post a CommentI was feeding the baby on the couch, watching GMA when I saw it happen -- I knew everything would change that day. And it has.
I like how you took this topic and spun it around, in a new way.
First off I just read your profile, and I want to say Thank you for what you have done for us, for our coutry, for our freedom. You are right, life goes on but I for one know that I have not, nor will forget that day, my husband worked in trade center, he came home that night, unlike the others. And yes we go on, hoping that we will never see another day like that again. You said it so well.
Good reflection. My mom always was asked where she was when Kennedy was shot.
good posture for our country. good read,
Very good article. I work with wounded soldiers and see how the war has ravaged them everyday. By the way, I was in Kuwait when 911 happened. Being in a foreign country when America was attached...very strange feeling indeed.
You write beautifully!
♥ for some reason, the emails stopped arriving announcing you'd published.
Great article. Full of wisdom.
Right. It doesn't matter where we were. It matters where they were. This is great.