Where Were You on 9/11/01?

I was at home with my 4 year old son watching PBS. The plumber came to the door to work on our bathroom and asked if I had seen the news - something was going on. I turned the TV to NBC.

What we witnessed, my little boy, the plumber, and I, looked more like a scene from a disaster movie than reality. I suppose it was that my mind was unable to process that this was happening. Here. In the USA. The safest country in the world.

I did my best to control my fear, anxiety, and horror. 4 year olds can pick up on so much. I couldn't keep the tears at bay. The plumber stood in shock next to my chair.

By the time the second tower fell, I was on the phone with the school. My other two children were there. My instinct was fear for their safety. I was assured that security was tight and the kids were safe. I resisted the urge to pick them up. We don't live near a major city. They would be as safe at school as at home... but I waited anxiously all day to see them.

I tried to explain to them, at ages 7 and 9, what had happened because I knew that they would hear about it at school. The teachers had managed to keep the news from them so that families could discuss it first. It's tough to be reassuring when you don't feel secure.

So today we mourn... whether we witnessed it live or on television... whether we knew someone who was lost or not... we all mourn for the dead... and for our innocent belief that we are safe.