I can still remember how it felt waking up to my mom panicking on that September morning thirteen years ago.
I remember listening to the radio and not being quite sure what was going on, but I remember being scared and confused as I rode my bike to the hardware store to go to work.
I remember sitting behind the front counter at work with my laptop hooked up to the dial-up internet trying to watch choppy news videos and refreshing the constantly updated front-page article on CNN.com.
I remember having a conversation with an old timer who was one of my first customers that morning, and while I don't remember what was said, I remember him being very somber and serious, and slowly realizing that life as I knew it in America was never going to be the same.
I remember the town being very quiet that morning, like my whole world was mourning.
I remember finding out that my big brother was in Washington D.C., realizing that we didn't know if he was safe, and waiting anxiously all day to hear if he was ok.
I remember the fire station sirens going off at noon that day and the subsequent the moment of silence for all those who had been lost.
I remember seeing our nation come together like I had never seen before (and haven't seen since), and recognizing the power of tragedy to bring unlikely people together.
September 11, 2001 is my generation's defining moment. Our Pearl Harbor. It's the day that we all have a story of where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news. It's hard to believe it's been thirteen years because I still remember it so vividly, but here we are.
I am so thankful for those who sacrifice every day to protect us and the freedoms we hold so dear, for those who daily put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. Thank you.
