Five years later....

Shayna and I are sitting here both watching the "ceremonies" on NBC for 9/11. It is so hard to believe that this occured only five years ago. Five years ago, Shayna was just an "innocent" young child of five years old. I clearly remember that day. We were picking up toys in Shayna's playroom. I ran quickly into my office to "start downloading" my email for the day. (my office was adjacent to Shayna's playroom) One email came from a friend in Usborne and it said, "Turn on the television". Almost immediately the phone rang, it was Donnie, he said "Don't turn the television on with Shayna there." Well, of course I turned the televsion on and it was about 9:00 am... within minutes we viewed the 2nd plane blazing through the 2nd tower. Shayna's reponse was "I shouldn't be watching a movie like this - it is violent." I just started crying. I didn't understand what was going on... I just knew something was going on.

Hours later, after watching television on and off (mostly when Shayna wasn't around) I, like all of America, gained a better understanding. By mid-afternoon, I explained to Shayna what was happening. She knew something was going on because of how I was acting all day. Her first reaction was "Mommy, those must of been bad men, very bad men." Her second reaction was,"Mommy, Aunt Patty must be very sad. She is from NYC and loves NYC. Can we call her ? I need to cheer her up."

Five years ago, we didn't think of "security" at the airports like we do today.
Five years ago, Washington DC didn't have "concrete flowerpots" protecting the buildings.
Five years ago, we didn't worry about terrorism on the level we do today.
Five years ago, we were a different country.

As each persons name is read - I see my daughter finally understanding how "huge" this is. Obviously, she always understood, but today I think a clearer understanding of how many mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and children were lost. I can see sorrow, true sorrow for the first time in my young daughters life.

I hope that our country never has to share this type of sorrow again with our children.