9/11

Seven years ago I woke up to a message blinking on my computer screen from my friend Jamie in Florida:

"Turn on your tv. They bombed the trade center."

Fuzzy headed I grabbed the remote and climbed back into bed. I had no idea what she was talking about? Who? Where? Why?

The news footage was unbelievable. Fire. Smoke. Death. Destruction. People running down the streets of New York like some terrible monster movie.

At 8:46:26 a.m American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north side of the North Tower of the WTC between the 94th and 98th floors.

At 9:02:54 a.m United Airlines Flight 175 impacted the south side of the South Tower of the WTC between the 78th and 84th floors.

At 9:37 a.m. merican Airlines Flight 77 is lost from radar screens and impacts the western side of the Pentagon. The section of the Pentagon hit consists mainly of newly renovated, unoccupied offices.

At 10:06:05 a.m United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in Somerset county, about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

I was in college at the time. Hazy. In shock, I dressed quickly,and took the elevator 10 floors down. It was noisy I remember. People waking up just learning of the attacks were knocking on doors, dialing cell phones, crying aloud worried about loved ones. I met up with some of my friends in the courtyard.

Could it be true? We're under attack? Us? America? We've been so safe, so sheltered. Who would dare?

And... what if they come here next?

Day slowly slipped into night as we held onto one another. Praying for the men, women, and children who had left us suddenly and violently.

Pain comes in waves. It radiates. It has ripples that flow softly and slide easily over us in our most vulnerable moments.

I drove through DC today, let the sun shine through my window. I passed the Monument and Capital building. The statues and memorials. People milled down the sidewalks the first hot chocolate of Fall clutched in their hands. They laughed too. Not because they've forgotten what happened seven years ago, but because they refused to let it stop them from living.

And that? That is freedom.