Never Forget: Hope amid reflection on September 11

If you’re an American, today is a very somber day in our history. Most people in the United States remember where they were on September 11, 2001. I was sitting in a class at my middle school. I was eleven years old.

Memories, or lack thereof

There are certain things that I can’t remember or that my memory has changed over the years for reasons I don’t even know. For example, I don’t remember being told that the towers had been hit until my school day ended and my mom came to pick me up holding back tears.

What I do remember: Psalm 23 by Jeff Majors playing in the background in our car. My mom insisting I get in before she said anything. Me noticing that mom was crying (which isn’t unusual — the women on my mom’s side of the family cry easily) and knowing this day felt different. I hoped I was wrong. I wasn’t.

Reflecting after all these years

The more I think about that day, I think about the people who survived or were left behind by those who died. They are why we’ll never forget September 11. I think about the pain the survivors went through, and the ones who suffered from crippling disabilities because of what happened.

Once she told me, I cried too, thinking about my best friend who I knew had family in NYC.

As someone who has lived with a mild disability all my life, it’s impossible to imagine what those survivors go through. I hope their families have peace. I can’t even begin to think about what my experience would be like if I were one of them. That’s not even mentioning what it’s like for the members of their family.

Still, I continue doing what we’ve done every day since the attacks; I lean on hope. Hope that good will still triumph. Hope that one day, peace will reign and we won’t have to worry about these things anymore.

Until then: Never Forget.

As I close this blog, let’s talk: If you’re American, how do you remember September 11? If you’re not, what effect does hearing about it have on you?

My hope is that this was illuminating for you. Can’t wait to hear from you in the comments.