10th Anniversary of the Day our Lives Changed Forever 9/11/01

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Today we will all be thinking about where we were and what we were doing 10 years ago when our lives changed forever. From that point on, it would always be before 9/11 or the attack and after 9/11 or the attack. Things would never be the same: security, travel, life in general....


I had just started a new job the day before and didn't know anyone that I worked with, but instantly became bonded with these people in our grief and unity as Americans. I was worried about not being able to reach Bill who was working on the Connecticut shoreline just across from Long Island Sound. I couldn't get in touch with him by phone - either by cell or land line, and with each news report or rumor my stomach and heart ached more and more...


I was finally able to talk to him and to my children around 5pm that day and couldn't wait to leave work, just so I could hold them in my arms.  Then we all sat on the couch and watched TV in silence and shock with the rest of the country. We cried. We stared. We couldn't believe what was happening. We watched as America's Finest and Bravest risked and lost their lives to try and rescue their fellow Americans from burning and collapsing buildings in New York and Virginia... We heard how fearless Americans saved countless lives by stopping hijackers in Pennsylvania by taking down their plane and sacrificing their own lives.

We all came together as Americans... giving until it hurt: money, blood, food, water, anything and everything we had. Flags flew everywhere, my house included.....

Then we tried to get back to normal, as normal as we could. The late night comedians went back to work so that the terrorist wouldn't win!





Little by little we returned to our daily routine never to forget what happened and those we lost.





So as you go about your day today, please take a moment to fly your flag and to remember those that lost their lives 10 years ago today, the innocent civilians, the heroes "just doing what they do," and those amazing Americans in Pennsylvania. Also keep in mind those of our military who are fighting the terrorists who attacked us that day and who protect us every day so we can have the freedoms we have every day.

God bless you all and God bless America.





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Have You Forgotten?

As we all know, on September 11, 2001 our country changed forever.....




As I am sure you all do, I remember exactly where I was and exactly how I felt when the world stopped turning.....




I know that you all have your memories from that very fateful day. How we cried for the innocent lives lost, for all the people left behind: the wives, the children, the parents, the brothers and sisters, not to mention the countless extended families and millions of friends. We all felt as if we lost someone even if we didn't know anyone personally. But, even during this horrendous time, incredible acts of bravery and sacrifice emerged - and we all cried again. We all sat there in our living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens wanting to do something, anything... but what could we do? So we clung to each other: families, friends and even strangers..... we united.

We all have the memories from those days that followed... how we all came together as a country, we all seemed to need each other and we were there for each other, friends as well as strangers. What an incredible thing to see the flags on all the homes and businesses around the country, what a sense of pride in our United States of America.

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I wish you all happiness, love and safety today and always with your families and please take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate price nine years ago in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia on that horrible day. Please fly your flag today and put aside your political differences to take time to think of those serving in our military, many of them away from their own families, working hard to make sure that something like this will never happen again to our beautiful country - the most wonderful country in the world.

God bless you all and God bless America!