For one, my oldest celebrated her 9th birthday, so it was a day of happiness for our family. Georgia loved her gifts (even Irelyn bought her a doll out of her own money!) and had a great time with the family dropping by. My grandmother was there and gave both girls some diamond studded elephant pendants that she had collected over the years – my grandmother has always collected elephant related items – as something to remember her by.
Cake was eaten, presents were open, dinner was consumed, and all in all it was a good day.
This doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten what happened on September 11th, 2001. However, I don’t need a special day to remember, that event has stuck in my head every day for the past ten years. Of course I can never forget 9/11. Every time I read about some TSA groping a 4 year old, how a SWAT team from the Dept. of Education broke down a door where their target wasn’t even living, each time how the Patriot Act is used against citizens, and even how I’m no longer going to be allowed to purchase a light bulb that I wish to buy, I remember not only the attacks that killed 3,000 of our citizens and declared war upon us, but the failure of the American political system in their overarching response to protect us from everything, including ourselves.
I fear my government more than I do any goat humping terrorist. I’d fear the terrorist more if he were here to help me instead.