The other day our daughter and I were reflecting on that fateful day ten years ago. Where we were, what we were doing, e.g. on that day. Even though she was only 6-years-old, she can vividly recall that day. She asked why. Why do we recall the horrific, and can't always seem to remember the sweet, fun times. I told her, this was our JFK, MLK Jr assassination, Pearl Harbor, etc. We are now part of a collective pot of our nation's history. We will always remember, as we should.
As we talked more, I began to realize something. Our youngest son, with whom I was pregnant with at the time, doesn't know anything different. He has only known our world post-9/11. I wanted to weep for our son. It doesn't seem right, and it is definitely cruel that he has never known America when it wasn't in a war. Yet, even with him exposed to the changed world from that day, he still hasn't grasped the magnitude of that day. I had to explain again what happened, why it happened, and the impact on our world. I'm not sure if it he understands that it wasn't always like this. Recently, our oldest flew back to Boulder, and we completely forgot the TSA rules. He had to throw out all his bottles of shampoo and soap. I had already left, and he couldn't hand them to me. I still forget we have all those rules now. So how could a 9-year-old wrap his head around it.
It just made me take pause to realize that he didn't know anything pre-9/11. I pray someday, the wars will end, but I can't see an end. I pray our children will never have to live another day like that day.
When life hands you lemons... Picture by CW
