September 11th

This day always brings me to my knees. I remember in vivid detail every minute of that day from the moment the radio snapped on to wake us for the day. I remember the view I could see from my bedroom window. I can still hear Dakota rustling around in the kitchen as she fed the dogs. I can hear the radio DJ as he began to share the confused tale of not knowing what was happening.

I remember being in a daze and wanting to retreat into my office when I arrived at work. I remember how panicked everyone around me sounded. I remember my supervisor coming to my desk to tell me that she thought I should go home. Now. She was the only one who knew I was 11 weeks pregnant with Kelton. I remember calling Dakota, who worked on the floor below me, and relaying the message. We gathered up our stuff and went home, stopping at the grocery store to pick up some food. The clerk recommended alcohol and we all laughed a very uncomfortable nervous and scared laugh.

I remember sitting on the couch watching it over and over and over trying to make sense of it until we just couldnt' watch anymore. We didn't talk. There was nothing to say. Our hearts were breaking for people we'd never met. And we were terrified - just like the rest of the country. And we cried. Oh how we cried for what was happening.

I remember the silence of the skies. All planes were grounded immediately and the silence of the overhead flight pattern was deafening. The whole world felt quiet as we all stayed inside our homes and with our families.

So on this, the 7th anniversary of September 11, 2001 I want to say I REMEMBER. I will never forgot.