Eight years gone...

It's crazy to me, how fast time can go by. Crazy. Eight years ago, as I was getting ready for work, my mom came into the living room and said "Laur, you need to come and look at the tv". She told me what had happened, and I fell against the wall. I couldn't even stand. ... That day. Oh, my goodness. I was probably the weepiest I've been in my life. I remember exactly where I was when I heard on the radio that the Pentagon had been hit, and my mind immediately queued the 4th verse of America, the Beautiful ("O' beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years. Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears.") and I was comforted that, although the Pentagon had been hit, it still stood. As the day went by, we sat around a radio at work - not working, but listening. Listening and waiting - for news, wondering who had done this, and why.

Eight years later, I am brought to tears by the memory of that day. Tears of sadness, fear and horror, yes. But also tears of gratitude, hope, and patriotism. Oh my word, I love my country. I ache for the people around the country (and world, really) who, today, have an anniversary of loss. Please, let us never forget all of the men and women who died that day. Let us never forget to enjoy the freedoms that are ours, I pray.

To finish the 4th verse, "America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea"