The 9/11 Hammer

They're beating us over the head with the 9/11 hammer today.

Don't get me wrong. It profoundly affected all of us. This is a good time to look back, remember and reflect.

But watch the context, people.

On the radio this a.m, at the time the first plane went into the first building:

"Let us all remember the events 5 years ago, right now ..."

They go into a song.

The song?

"Born in the USA," Bruce Springsteen.

Do people listen to lyrics anymore?

Later, on a different station ...

(hushed voice) "...9/11. Remember where you were. Never forget." Segues into a song ...

"Margaritaville."

I ain't making this stuff up, folks!

Well, since we are all looking back and sharing ... I was at home, child 1 was at kindergarten, child 2 was playing. The Husband called and told me to turn on the tv. "They think a commuter plane flew into a building." With him on the phone, I turned on the tv to see them showing the video of a plane flying into a building. Was it the first or the second? I don't remember. But I do remember very clearly telling my husband, who was in his car and hadn't seen any of this, with no doubt in my mind -- "That was not a commuter plane."

I called a friend of mine, one of the Smug-Never-Watch-Tv types, since I knew she wouldn't have hers on. Told her to. Called my sister, waking her up. I remember what I said. "Turn on your tv. We're being attacked."

Mostly a blur after that. Was it that night or the next day when the family and friends began going down there, holding up their signs? All desperately searching for someone they loved. After watching hours of this, I had to turn it off. "I can't cry anymore," I remember telling myself. My heart was ripped out of my chest.

Child 3 was born 9 months to the day. 6-11-02. Her middle name means "beautiful."