Where were you?

I just woke up that morning. I was only a few months pregnant with my second child and just barely outgrew my clothes. I was still trying to do some light exercising. I turned on the TVand sat in shock. My brother, a police officer, was visiting from CA along with another brother. I knew he would want to see. I went and woke him up. He was supossed to fly home that afternoon. We sat in front of the TV all day. I called my husband at work. He said he'd seen but didn't want to worry me so he didn't call. I couldn't wait for him to come home.

I've never been to New York. I grew up on the opposite side of the US. But I LOVE the city and have always dreamed of visiting the city, New York. I didn't know anyone there. The closest I ever came to the Twin Towers was watching a cooking/meal show on HGTV that often featured 'Windows on the World'. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Yet at the same time, it was soo real.

My heart ached. When I crawled into bed that night I couldn't sleep. I could only think of all those people still waiting to hear from loved ones. Mom's and Dad's trying to figure out how to tell their young children that their Mom or Dad was not coming home. I thought of those pregnant women who's children would never know their fathers. I thought of the rescue workers and their selfless acts. I could not hold back the tears as they rolled down my cheeks and as my husband wrapped his arms around me I cried harder still for all those who lost their loved ones and would never feel their embrace again.

I remember the days following and seeing the American flag flying EVERYWHERE. I miss that. My heart swells with pride when I think of the unity that our country showed in those days, weeks, and months following 9/11. Slowly people started to put their flags away.

Today, on the anniversary of 9/11, I hope you're not able to go anywhere without seeing the flag waving proudly in the sky.