I remember a friend visiting me in New Jersey one month after the 9/11 attack . He said he wanted to go into New York City to see the World Trade Center site. So we made the trip into the city. At that time, emergency teams were still searching for bodies in the pile of concrete, steel, and ashes. While we could only get within one block of the actual tower site, the streets were filled American flags, stickers and banners proclaiming support and love for those lost in the towers. Many people signed white sheets that were hung everywhere and visitors were everywhere. You could feel the heaviness in the air and the grief was apparent on so many faces. It was an unbelievable experience for me and for my friend from Texas and in the years since then I have frequently thought back to that day. I asked myself “what did I learn that day”?
The one thing that stands out in my mind is that on 9/11/2001 I learned that life can change in an instant. Suddenly I became very aware of what is important, what matters most to me. Hopefully the lesson isn’t lost as time passes.
Grieving is a process that takes whatever time it takes. There is no timetable that works for everyone. It is true for the sadness and loss that each of us felt, and feels, about the events of September 11th. While it is true for all loss, it is something that we don’t always acknowledge. The collective grieving that continues each year offers hope of healing as we focus on what is important, what is of real value in life. For me, that is to appreciate and value the people in my life every day. try to keep this lesson in my heart. The September 11 anniversary is a reminder for me once again that life is unpredictable.
