I remember

I remember September 11, 2001.

I remember that it was a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. It was warm but not too warm. The kind of day that gently reminds everyone that fall is just around the corner.

I remember listening to the radio in my car on my way to work. The DJ broke in to say that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers but that was all he knew. I thought, how odd.

I remember arriving at the office and going straight to the conference room. It was early and not many people were at work yet. I wanted to see if there was any coverage about the incident in NY. Just as I turned the TV on, I saw the second plane hit the second tower live.

I remember staring at the TV. My boss had come in the room at this point and we were both in shock. He said, "This is no accident."

I remember going to my office and trying to begin my day. I could hear more people filtering in to the conference room to watch the coverage and there was a quiet that just settled over the office.

I remember hearing a collective gasp and I rushed out of my office. It was then I saw the first tower fall.

I remember standing there watching the second tower fall and not believing what I was seeing.

I remember calling Dad and I was so frustrated that I couldn't make him understand why this was so scary. He had only heard about it but had not seen the planes hit or the people jumping out of 100-story windows or seen the towers fall.

I remember hearing about more planes. And all we could do was look up in the sky and hope one was not coming down near us.

I remember leaving work like many others and going to the Smith's house. We watched the coverage and ate chocolate cake. An odd combination now but it reminded me that not everything had changed.

I remember going to church that night for a prayer service and looking at all the people just staring at the pastor. As if they expected Jesus to come back right at that moment.

I remember after I came home that night standing on my deck. I looked up in the sky and saw stars. But I heard nothing. No sirens, no airplanes buzzing through the air, no cars on the street and no children playing outside. It was as if time had stopped.

I still remember all these things as if they happened yesterday and not eight years ago. But more importantly I remember that God is ever faithful, that my family is the most precious thing in the world to me and time heals all wounds.