14 Years Never Forget #NeverForget

14 years. For me, when I look back on most of the memories of my life, they are cloudy. My memory isn’t the best and when it comes to remembering events like losing loved ones and experiencing sorrow, my memory is very foggy.

But when it comes to September 11th, my memories are crystal clear. A part of me wishes I didn’t remember everything so vividly, but the other part knows that it is imperative that I never forget the tremendous loss our country experienced on 9-11 as well as the amazing unity our country experienced in the days to follow. On the morning of September 11th, 2001, I was sitting at my desk at work in a suburb of Chicago. I was in the midst of setting up benefits for new hires. (I was in human resources.) I remember learning of the first plane and trying to go online to learn more about what was happening. It was still the age of dial-up internet and most websites were down or going very slowly from heavy traffic. I remember calling my husband and my mom to get clarity on the situation. Everyone in my department ended up going into a conference room to watch the breaking news on a small TV with rabbit ears. We were sent home early since most Chicago companies closed early due to the fear of Chicago area attacks. Once I was home, I sat numb in front of the TV learning the gravity of what occurred.

With time, the country has moved on and experienced both great things and also more loss. But even with time passing, thinking back to the days of September 2001 gives most of us pause.

Every year I post about September 11 and every year many of you share your memories. Some of you have even shared about the loved ones you lost during the 9/11 attacks. To those of you who lost loved ones on 9/11, know that you are in our thoughts and our prayers. We will never forget. God bless.