In Memoriam

I remember twelve years ago today as if it were yesterday, being awakened by our daughter who thought we might be under attack. We turned on the television in time to see the second plane hit the twin tower and, awhile later, one at a time, both towers crumpling to the ground It was too surreal to be frightening until the stories began.

The stories were heartbreaking and heroic. New Yorkers helped each other, and the entire nation united behind them, as well as those at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was an unprecedented spirit of brotherhood and patriotism. I have never seen the Stars and Stripes flying from so many unlikely places--car antennae, freeway overpasses and on every single fire truck in the nation. We were truly proud to be Americans.

We had the world's sympathy. It is tragic that rushing into an unwarranted, unnecessary war isolated us and caused most of the Middle East to hate us. There were so many possibilities to turn a horrific event into a chance to foster global unity and mutual support instead of dividing us.

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She must be used to it after twelve years. I'm afraid birthday wishes will always come second to remembrances of mayhem and grief, but they are no less heartfelt for all that. Happy Birthday, Ms Tortilla, from OilMan and me.