Eighteen years ago today...

...I was late for work. It had been a tough summer. I spent more time worried about getting sideways with sloppy “allied” turret gunners patrolling near my team than more important things. I even forgot my (now) ex-wife’s Birthday that year, and the “Hey, I’m over here serving my country, trying to do some good in a really messy situation, and we got a call late last night…” just did not take. So, I chose one morning to recharge and sip some coffee in the quiet company of a Blue Heron that often perched near the waterline of the small lake that touched my backyard.

 As I got up and threw my backpack over my shoulder, I realized it was well after 9:30. The morning had evaporated…I had a staff meeting at 11:00 that I could not miss. I needed to get going. As I lumbered through the house and out the front door towards my car, I remember looking up. Seemed odd, the front of my house that faced busy main road this side of the Lynnhaven River was quieter than usual. When I turned the key on my truck’s ignition, the radio popped to life and I realized the world had just changed. Radically.

This morning I went to our local Fire Department in Cornelius, NC to stand in silence as a small ceremonial bell rang at 8:46, 9:03, and 10:03 am. I would be late for work. My wife was with me. She made the point to go. September 11th, 2001 was her third day in the U.S. after arriving from Central America to interview for graduate school here. Although our perspectives were vastly unalike I know most of our thoughts were identical in those minutes. We have kids. Innocent souls still too young to understand the enormity of the events 18 years ago, but old enough to show interest in serving their country and completely understanding that Dad had friends who were killed by bad guys.    

Cheers, to you Erik, Art, Nate, Mike, and so many others. We will never close the book on your lives or allow your families to go quietly. We are still here for you.

Peace. #LLTB