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September 11, 2008
September 11, Seven Years Later
Please indulge me. Seven years ago today, we woke up to horrific, unbelievable news. Our son, a sophomore at NYU, had left for his early Tuesday morning class. After he left his apartment, the world turned upside down and we had no idea where he was.
I wasn't going to say anything but no one is talking about September 11th today. The front pages of the Seattle papers touch on the latest Boeing tanker news, a local school district strike and a lame plan to curb youth violence.
There is not one mention of that nightmare of 7 years ago.
I take that day very personally. Our son, our only son, was climbing up out of the West Fourth Street station when the second plane hit the World Trade Towers. We were not able to connect with him until the early afternoon when we found an IM message saying he was okay. We weren't able to speak with him until late that night. I will never, ever forget his phone call. What was said is his story. But let me say: is there any way a 20 year old heals from that kind of experience? Is there any way loving caring parents can forgive themselves for such a thing happening to their only son?
You have your own stories of September 11th. It is not a day to forget. It is a day to remember, as long as we live. Neil and I will remember it forever as a day we could not keep our child safe.
If you want a copy of the articles Tyler and I wrote after September 11, 2001, just email me.
Otherwise, please say a prayer, light a candle, meditate -- do whatever you do to honor the lives lost on that wretched day.
Inshallah.
Posted by kirby at September 11, 2008 09:56 PM