Remembering 9/11/2001

We were awakened by a call from Dana. 
She sounded quite frightened. 
"Turn on your television" she said.
We were unable to comprehend what we were seeing.
Planes were flying into skyscrapers
A brave bunch of passengers tried to take over their plane from hijackers.
The plane crashed into a field somewhere in Pennsylvania.
Another plane flew into the Pentagon
All air traffic was halted, leaving thousands stranded.
The President was taken from a classroom where he was reading a story to a class of kindergartners.
And aide came in and whispered something in his ear. 
He looked like a deer in the headlights
He was taken to an 'undisclosed secure location'.
The skyscrapers, weakened by the planes hitting them began to collapse
Sending a cyclone of dust, ash and smoke swirling down the narrow canyons of the city
Blocking the sun. Darkening the blue sky. 
Nobody knew what was happening.
Reality was turned on its head.
It was surreal.

Today, 18 years later, I still remember everything that happened that morning.
I think of the terror the people in those buildings and in that plane must have felt.
I think of the heroic people who died trying to save them
And those who are still suffering as a result.

I don't really know what else to do with these memories, so I light a candle, and wonder and try to hope that we all remember.
We cannot afford to be short sighted and forgetful...
It's still surreal....