I will never forget...

I always try to infuse and inject humor in my blog but today is a somber day where I remember what happened this day nine years ago -- the tragedy of 9/11. I dedicate this blog in memory of the day.

I will never forget an interruption in my daily routine by news of smoke and fire coming out of a skyscraper in New York; until that day, I didn't even know the towers had a name. I sat at home watching my news as I prepared my young toddler for daycare so I could go to work. It was supposed to be a day just like every other. I remember listening to the radio on the way to his daycare (only a short distance from my home) and hearing that this was believed to be a plane. Arriving at the daycare, we watched the next few minutes and witnessed another plane hit the other tower.

Shock. Awe. Disbelief. How did this happen? Why did this happen?

I drove on to my work and looking in the sky I saw a line of about 25 airplanes being diverted to the small Boise airport and then the words came on the radio - this was a terror attack. My mind thought, how could this happen? Who did this? Why did they do this?

As I arrived at work everyone was talking about what had happened and thirst to know more. Did we know someone there? We felt so disconnected not "knowing" anyone, yet "knowing" everyone.

In my car I had a small portable television. I can't even remember why I had the television but it was there. I brought the television into the office and in the back of the warehouse my office became the hub. We had the television on without stop throughout the day. Shortly after connecting the television, we realized there was another plane down at the Pentagon and a fourth flight in Pennsylvania was possibly related to the same terrorist attack.

For days I waited to see who would be rescued. I went through all the names looking to see who was missing and if they had been found. The devastation and loss or missing life consumed me and my heart ached.

I often tell people I feel disconnected being in Idaho, and I do. I don't know firsthand what things feel like, I wasn't there. But, I do know what I felt seeing this from so far away on a small 13 inch television and feeling so helpless.

Despite this tragic, horrific event, I saw a nation come together; I saw a world come together; I saw religious tolerance; I saw strength.

I will never forget how I felt. Shock. Awe. Disbelief.
I will never forget the images I saw. Destruction. Fallen Towers. The Flag.
I will never forget listening to voicemails saying goodbye. I Love You.
I will never forget the victims who lost their life. 2977.
I will never forget everyone was affected. Christians. Atheists. Buddhist. Muslim.
I will never forget the survivors who are trying to get on with their lives. Moms. Dads. Kids.
I will never forget. You.