On this Sunday, September 11, 2011, I think about how lucky I am to be blessed with a loving family and how proud I am to be a citizen of the United States of America. Ten years ago on this date I sat with my seniors at Hillsboro High School watching the events unfold on television. Their fear and horror were quite evident, but no one realized how our world would change. I remember just praying that my beautiful 5th grade son was not watching this at school. I wanted the chance to be with him and to hold him while we talked about the unimaginable tragedy that was unfolding all around us in our own country. Prayers were not answered for many that day and he had seen it all. The tears on his face and the look of terror in his eyes when I picked him up at school will stay with me forever.
We went home. We talked and we hugged a lot. I wasn’t hungry at all, but somehow it seemed like a warm meal shared together would help. I knew in my heart that so many of my fellow Americans would never again enjoy that warm meal together, and it reminded me that every moment is special. We had spaghetti, I haven’t forgotten.
Since then many of our citizens have given their lives in service of our country. I’m proud of how far we have come since September 11, 2001. I’m proud that this is my country and that I have the right to go home and make spaghetti for my family on September 11 or any other day. God bless America!
