Today, it has been 1 year since 9/11. It’s a day that I have stayed home with my girls and keep looking at them and being extra thankful to have them with me.

Growing up, I remember – whether in history class or just from random adults – hearing from time to time how “everyone remembered what they were doing” when JFK was shot. It was one of those powerful moments that everyone remembered. It was one of those moments that I never expected to experience myself. But I did.

That morning, I had a f/u appointment with a dermatologist about an allergic skin reaction I had been fighting with all summer. I went in, saw the doctor and left there after 9am w/o a clue. As I was driving to work, I heard on the radio that 2 planes at hit the World Trade Center. I remember feeling in shock and not knowing what to make of it. By the time I heard, there was no doubt it was an attack. I tried to call DH and could not get through. I was able to get through to my mother at work. She already knew. When I got to work, I was in a daze and scrambling to reach DH.

When I got into the office, it was an environment I was not accustomed to. Everyone was solemn and buzzing with the unfolding events. No work was getting done – we were all huddle together over a radio or in my boss’s office watching the news on a small black and white TV screen. This is where we all were when the towers came crashing down. It was an overwhelming feeling. Shortly after everyone was sent home to be with their families. I remember on my drive home – traveling over the Ben Franklin Bridge the utter fear of “what if Philly is next”? I was in a “panic” to get home before any other major city was targeted. I spent the rest of the day home alone, watching the news coverage. DH is in retail, so he had no choice but to stay at work. I caught up with some friends – making sure we were all “ok”. And in the midst of it all, I got a call from our attorney on our pending house purchase – I guess Real Estate never stops either.

I knew people who where there. Thankfully no one I knew died, but some had to run for their lives and another almost didn’t make it out. Their stories are terrifying and heartbraking. In the aftermath, I remember the courage of our President and the rescue team. I remember the stories of despair and hope and desperation of the families of those missing and lost. I remember feeling incredible fear and sadness and awe of the bravery of the men and women who gave their lives to save others and of the heroic emerging stories of those helping others in the buildings, on the ground and in the air. I felt (and still do) so much pride in this country and what we stand for. And it was good to see everyone united the way we should be.

I live in NJ, only 1-1.5 hours from NYC. The Twin Towers were there while I was growing up. I never visited them, nor did I dwell on them. They were just simply there – something I took for granted. But now, when I see old reruns of Friends or watch the intro to Sex and the City (as DH and I continue through our marathon), I get choked up every time I see those 2 buildings. And watching Friends, you can see the progression of time. In the pre-9/11 episodes, they are there in between scenes, and then there are the episodes post-9/11 with no towers. It’s very sobering.

Now, 5 years later – there is no longer the feeling of unity in this country. It saddens me greatly. I see so many people settled back into their routine. The pain, sorrow, fear, etc of that day should never be forgotten. We need to remember – both for those who lost their lives that day, but also so we can continue on as the great country that we are and not let this happen again!