September 11, 2001

Reflections on the 10 year anniversary

Posted by joy.the.curious on Sep 8, 2011 in Random | 8 comments

I’ve been wondering what to write about lately. There’s so much good material… my road trip to Chicago, the Minnesota State Fair, the first day of school, the Vikings season opener…

Ah yes… all good material for sure. However, there’s something important looming. Something heavy.

We dread it; we revere it; we hate to re-live it… but we must.

In three days, it will be the tenth anniversary of September 11th.

Everyone is being asked to remember where they were on that day. Of course, we all know where we were. I was a young mother and had just waved goodbye to my first grader as he boarded the school bus at the end of our driveway. I glanced at the time in the corner of the TV screen and hurried to get my four year old ready for daycare so I wouldn’t be late for my 9am meeting.

The first plane struck as I was trying to find some earrings to match my outfit. Such a bummer. What a tragedy. Those poor people. Now then… silver hoops or beady dangles?

I was making my bed and preparing to leave when the second plane struck. I sank onto the bed, my eyes glued to the Today Show. “Clearly, this is some kind of attack,” Matt Lauer and Katie Couric were saying. I couldn’t process it… couldn’t really understand the implications… all I knew was that this day would go down in history. I watched in horror for a good several minutes before I finally went and scooped up my four year old and hugged him tight. “Look Cole,” I said. “Look at the TV. You’ll remember this day forever.”

Creator: Robert Clark | Credit: INSTITUTE

About ten minutes later, I dropped Cole off at daycare and somehow managed to show up on time for my 9am meeting. I stumbled through it, then left around noon, finally realizing that no one else would be coming into the office that day.

I don’t remember much else from that long Tuesday, but I do remember this. While I was tucking my little boys into bed that night, I remember being thankful that they were so blissfully ignorant of the devastating events of the day. But then, as we were finishing our night time prayers, Cole said something I’ll never forget. Very quietly, he added, “And God bless the people in the crashing towers.”

God. bless. the. people. in. the. crashing. towers.

That day was so deep… so significant… so tragic. It changed us, and it changed our nation forever. And while people are quick to remember their memories and emotions from September 11th, it’s really September 12th that holds more significance for me. That’s the day our nation woke up at war, and I started to question everything I thought I knew.

What’s Al-Qaeda? Who’s Osama Bin Laden? How could those people hate us so much? Are we bad? What’s wrong with us?

I scoured the internet, searching for answers. I read passages from the Koran, trying to wrap my head around the term “jihad.” I started reading my Bible for the first time, and craved to understand the differences between the world’s major religions. I signed up to be a Sunday School teacher, poring over my weekly lesson plans and trying hard to stay one step ahead of my well-versed third graders.

And, like most… I questioned my purpose. Life suddenly seemed so important. Was I using my God-given talents to make a difference in the world? Or was I wiling away my time, oblivious to any higher meaning?

About that time, I decided I wanted to be a writer. A real one… that actually wrote for a living. I took a writing class and suddenly felt at home… at peace… like I was finally “among my people” and doing what I was supposed to be doing with my life.

But unfortunately, my higher purpose did not pay the bills. So, ten years later… here I am. Still searching, still wondering, still hoping to get it right.

Yet, that’s what we’re all doing, aren’t we? Hoping to get it right?

We search for meaning, strive for balance, wish for happiness, and pray for peace. And at the end of the day, we just hope we’ve set a good example for our children, who aren’t nearly as blissfully ignorant as we may think.

God bless the people in the crashing towers.

Amen.

Next time

Synchronicity and a little book I wrote in memory of my friend’s 2-year-old daughter, Emma

8 Comments

1. Betsy Bonnema | September 8, 2011 at 7:01 am

   Love your entry! Yes, that is what we are all doing. Hoping and praying to get it right. So well written. Thank you for sharing.

2. Kim McGraw | September 8, 2011 at 8:07 am

   You brought tears to my eyes, Joy. Thank your for your powerful words.

3. Kathy Alm... | September 8, 2011 at 8:38 am

   Well written, Joy. And, yes, we all remember that Sept. 11 and all the Sept. 11ths that have come and gone since then. You are right, we all wondered how anyone could be filled with that kind of hate. Somehow through that tragic day we came together as Americans and still have that feeling. God Bless those that lost loved ones that day, their souls. And, God Bless the USA and all those who protect our freedoms!!!!!! We are truly grateful!

4. Annette B. | September 8, 2011 at 10:00 am

   Thanks Joy. Yes, I well remember that morning also. I was watching the Today show in shock and couldn’t tear myself away from the visual of what was happening. I pray the anniversary of this tragedy will be a reminder to bring out the best in all of us.

5. LeeAnn | September 8, 2011 at 1:21 pm

   good one, Joy!

6. Jane D | September 8, 2011 at 7:25 pm

   A writer is someone who moves people. You ARE a writer Joy and a damn good one! Thank you.

7. Susan Dressel | September 9, 2011 at 10:36 am

   Tears and goosebumps. As Jane states, “A writer is someone who moves people.” I’ve been moved. Thank you.

8. Linda Racine | September 11, 2011 at 12:31 pm

   Well stated Joy. The events of 911 has connected us to so many other humans. Everyone can recall just where they were and can also likely remember feeling numb and confused.. questioning “what does this really mean”? I just recently learned that a former WSHS student 4 years older me had died in the WTC. Humbling!