Remember what is important!
I was living outside of New York City on September 11, 2001 in a community where a lot of people who worked in NYC lived - a lot of Firefighter and policemen, investment brokers, people who could not make enough to live in the city itself. I remember the fear and grief that followed. I remember having to pickup my daughter at her elementary school because they were afraid to send the children home to empty houses. I remember the children who were left with no one to pick them up. I remember walking into a grocery store in the weeks that followed and comforting the people around you who had lost someone close to them. I remember the unending funerals and memorial services in the weeks and months to follow.
On the first anniversary of 9-11 a group NY students wrote this poem in their classroom that I thought I would share.
List of “Don’t Forgets” and “Remembers”We were eight.
Before September 11th, we would wake up with a list of “Don’t Forgets”
Don’t forget to wash your face
Don’t forget to brush your teeth
Don’t forget to do your homework
Don’t forget to wear your jacket
Don’t forget to clean your room
Don’t forget to take a bath
After September 11th, we wake up with a list of “Remembers”
Remember to greet the sun each morning
Remember to enjoy every meal
Remember to thank your parents for their hard work
Remember to honor those who keep you safe
Remember to value each person you meet
Remember to respect other’s beliefs
Now we are nine.
It is so important to remember the people who we lost and the important things in life.
Recent Comments
45
Thank you so much for this touching blog. I'm sure that most of us woke up this morning with the date reminding us immediately of that fateful day. My grandson was born on this day and he always considers his birthday tinged with sadness and this will be with him for his life. We must be so thankful for the life we have and think of those who had theirs cut short so dreadfully. Ches
Odd you should say that Chessie, about your grandson's birth date....my daughter's then boyfriend was 18 on that day and he said he felt it would be forever tainted by those horrific events.
Yes, it's a real shame that those who share this date with an anniversary or birthday, have their special day tainted by this horrific memory. Ches
It is so sad that they feel linked to 9-11 in this way. I wish there was some way to make it feel more empowering rather than negative.
I wasn't in NYC or near it 14 years ago, but I was watching in horror, the news broadcast after the first tower - and then the second one went down. My children were still small - I remember looking up to the sky and asking "What is happening in this world?"
We can't forget unspeakable acts we humans are capable of , but more importantly, we must remember that we are all also capable of compassion, kindness, forgiveness, love, and a grateful spirit.
Thank you for sharing the insight of children who were so profoundly affected on that day.
I dont think anyone in the world will ever forget, I have never been to New York but I will go before I pop of this rock , I want to pay my respects, we had the same thing going on in London a few years later on a smaller scale but just as devastating to those people who lost their loved ones but we will never give in to these cowards.
7/7/05 Gary, the day after there was such joy in Trafalgar Square when it was announced that London had been awarded the 2012 Olympics.........you're right, murdering cowards!
I watched it unfold from a distance, how it must have been for those so close like yourself I can't imagine.
Some more thoughts here if anybody would like to take a moment to ponder. What were you doing 14 years ago? I'm not religious but I would say that if there is a God then God Bless all the innocents.
Mark
Some of my neighbors were in buildings next to the Twin Towers. I felt lucky to be where I was. My neighbors husband chopped wood for a month ... all day, every day ... and still had to quit is job in the city. Thanks for the comment. Take care!
Great blog! and we do need to remember these things and embrace them in our life's, as it will enrich us as we move through life it self...thank you for this reminder.
See more comments
I will always remember what I saw on the television that day. It was horrific. At the time I was a second year university student attending Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland. The whole residence went silent as we tried to comprehend what we had just saw on the noon hour news broadcast. Many may remember that when they closed the American airspace many flights were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland (The number of displaced passengers in Gander exceeded the population of the entire community) and St. John's Newfoundland. A picture on the tv screen soon became reality as we headed to what was the old student center to help the people who had arrived on those planes. They were exhausted, confused and scared. Many of us gave up our meals at the dinning hall so that they could eat. I feel so blessed that I could lend a helping hand during such a terrible time.
It was wonderful that you could do something on that day to help someone.
I realize that it was a very small gesture and nothing compared to what folks on the scene or in the surrounding area had to face. It was a horrible day but we can honestly say that people from all corners of the world stepped up to help. It gives me the faith to believe that this world is still full of great people that will lend a helping hand in whatever way possible.