Ten Years Ago . . .

Cort was in a deposition in Beaumont. I was watching the Today Show while getting ready for work, as usual. The Today show broke in on itself (the show actually airs an hour later here, to account for the change in time zone, so the live version broke in on the delayed show) to report the plane hitting the first tower. Always a bit of a disaster news junkie, I was already glued to the TV, even before we had any idea what had really happened.

Cort was getting no news, so I started emailing him updates via Blackberry. The second plane hit the second tower, and I emailed him that this was definitely a terrorist attack. It was so surreal to be discussing a terrorist attack in our country. More hijackings were rumored. All planes in the U.S. were grounded. I was watching news coverage in Washington D.C. (I can still see the news reporter--Jim something), when there was an explosion behind him, and speculation began regarding a bombing. Soon it was determined that another plane had crashed into the Pentagon. The fact that this was happening in multiple cities began to sink in. I suddenly wished that Cort was at home.

Later I watched unbelievably as the first tower came down. I immediately emailed Cort again. I don't remember our exact exchange, but I remember him expressing complete disbelief. It was one of those things that you had to see to believe it was really happening. Cort, stuck in a deposition with no television coverage, could not believe it. At first Matt Lauer on the Today Show reported that "part" of the building had collapsed. Then it became clear that it was the whole building. We had been to New York City a few months earlier (my first time) and had visited the World Trade Center. I remember having a strange regret that we had not eaten at the restaurant at the top, Windows on the World--we had considered eating there but had decided upon someplace else instead.

I continued watching, and to the nation's horror the second tower also collapsed. Other buildings nearby were in danger. People were walking across the bridges out of Manhattan. I was glued with the rest of the country as we waited for news of the rescue of the injured which (save for a very, very few lucky people) never came. At some point the news reported the downed plane in Pennsylvania and speculated it was headed for the Capitol, but it was much later that I became aware of the story behind that hijacking.

Word came that my office building was closing. I still had not made it in, but made arrangements to have work brought to me so I could work at home. I never did any of that work that day.

A few months later, Cort and I visited New York City between Christmas and New Years. Because we had no kids and we could. Because during our visit the previous April I had discovered, to my surprise, that I really love the city. Because the events of September 11 made it seem important to do so. And, truthfully, because the terrorist attacks had depressed the tourism economy and we could stay there relatively inexpensively.

Ground Zero was not yet open to visitors when we were there. But we went by, and we saw all the flyers that people posted looking for loved ones who were never found. They were still hanging on fences, along with mementos and written notes. Soot from the collapsing towers still covered everything for blocks around. We took this picture while there and have it hanging in our house.

Now, ten years later, our world is so very different. But I'm talking about our world. Not the world. Ten years ago we were a young, childless, married couple. We are now parents with four small children. Children who will read about 9/11 only in history books. Will and Helen do not yet know about it. Charlie and Joe do. They learned about it in school, though, not from us. It does not really scare them, at least not yet. It is an event that, to them, is about as real as the battle of the Alamo.

Certainly, the terrorist attacks of September 11 changed our country. But for the most part, for those of us who did not lose a loved one, not significantly. My kids feel safe and secure. We spent the tenth anniversary of 9/11 at the same place that we spend many fall Sunday afternoons: at the Texans game. My kids enjoyed eating too much junk food while tailgating, seeing the huge American flag unfurl, and watching the Texans easily (!) beat the Colts.

None of these are very important things, really. But I am thankful that we live in a country where my kids can enjoy the simple, not-so-important things. Certainly, I realize that everyone is not so lucky. But as I watched the tenth anniversary retrospectives throughout the day, I was struck by the fact that, as horrific as the events of 9/11 were, the terrorists still were not able to fundamentally change this country. And for that, I am thankful.