911

I saw my first fallen leaves of the season today. Yellow, young in their independence, dancing in the road. I can't believe it's September again. Tomorrow is the 11th. It's been 8 years since the Tuesday that I woke up mid morning to a gorgeous blue sky, 9 voice mail messages, and a different America. By the time I woke up that morning, everything was already over.

That day was terrible. I was glued to the television; Patrick had to vacuum because he felt he had to do something. We were far from the fray, but it had happened to all of us.

I remember.

There are many in the world who live in terror every single day.

I realize.

Tomorrow, I will thank God for my country. I will thank Him that I live in a country where a statesman can yell at the president and not be killed. I will thank Him for the men and women and their families who have sacrificed their lives for my freedom. I will pray for those men and women who still sacrifice in their suffering remembrance for what they have done to provide it for me.

I will pray for the men and women we lost eight years ago in the towers, at the Pentagon, in those planes. I will pray for their families who still love them so. I will thank God for all of the ways He has cared for the least of these, the ones all over the world ... the sick, the dying, the distended bellies, the discarded, the disenfranchised, the mutilated ... and beg Him to save us.

Lord, have mercy.