I have to say something about 9/11

It has been 10 years since the worst terrorist attacks the U.S.  has ever seen.   It has been 10 years since my dad died.  He died in December of 01.  When 9/11 happened he was showing signs of being ill.  I was working at the local library then.  They had pulled out a small TV so we could all see the news reports.  I remember watching the tower fall.  It crumpled like a paper accordion.  I was worried about my dad who was spending days on the couch.  I was horrified at what I was seeing on the news.  When I got home that day the horrifying images were still on TV.  I remember my father saying "This is an act of war!"  Though I believe in avoiding and preventing war at almost all costs, this time I could not disagree with him. Some one had come into our country and took innocent lives.  The people who died on this day were either trying to get through a basic work day or trying to help someone who had been a victim of this act.  This was the first real act of war I had ever seen. 

I went to NY that year just to have some fun.  The bus drove by the hole where the towers once stood.  I remember thinking "I don't want to see this!"  I went to NY to have fun not to cry or wonder about those who passed on.  I came home the next day and showed dad the playbill from the play I saw and whatever junk I bought from a street vendor.  Shortly after that day we took him to the hospital.  Two weeks after he was admitted to the hospital.  He passed away.

My father almost never gave me money.  Few people know that he did give to other people.  Once a lady came to the door asking to use the phone.  I was alone in the house so I did not let her in and blocked the door with my chair.  The lady was trying to convince me to let her in.  My dad came home in the middle of all this and I told him she wanted to use the phone because she did not have money for a taxi. She needed to call a relative.   Dad gave her 20 dollars!  Once his car had been broken into and they stole a jacket.  Dad said "Well they must have needed it."  When I think of 9/11 I can't help but have memories of my dad.  I often said he must have been needed in heaven to sort out all the mess from 9/11.  I am sad and angry that all those people died.  I am sad and angry that my dad is dead.  We have different reasons to grieve, but we grieve just the same.  I hope my dad thinks of me.  I think of him every day.  I don't have much of a reason for him to be proud.  I hope that changes soon.  I hope the futures of the families that are grieving are happy ones.  May your anger and sadness be changed into hope and action.  Take care