A Day to Remember

Sunday was the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. I watched the coverage on television of the memorial. I was especially touched by the children who lost parents and the parents who lost children. These families have been changed forever. We have all been changed in some way. Many articles were written about life after 9/11 and how many of us now go about our daily life a bit differently. We might have changed jobs or how we travel to our job. We are more alert to our surroundings and we are told that "if we see something, say something". Sunday was a day to remember those that were lost on that day, 10 years ago and to remember those that were left behind in grief.

Two days earlier, on Friday, I went to visit my two aunts, now in their early nineties. Besides my mom, they are the oldest ones left in the family. I drove out to see them with my cousin and her husband. Our fathers were brothers but are now both gone. My cousin and I recalled how they loved washing their cars together on Saturday mornings. When we arrived by my aunts' apartments, we sat down to enjoy more stories about the family, especially the ones that took place well before we were even born. They were a large family, living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, during The Depression and World War II. Not happy times in the world but this family seemed to be happy just being together with one another.

My aunts lost their father when they were just children. He left for work one morning and died in an accident. It changed their lives forever but with the love and support of the family, they grew up to have wonderful adult lives of their own. Listening to their many stories and sharing family pictures, it was a day to remember those in my own family that were no longer with us.

We all suffer loss in our lives and have days to remember. As we take time during these days of remembrance, I hope that there are more joyous memories than sad ones.