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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Six Sentence Sunday, My Tribute to 9/11

These eight sentences are dedicated to my neighbor, the night manager at Windows on the World the restaurant on top of The World Trade Center. On 9/11 he lost his entire staff, couldn't deal with the loss and returned to Australia.

The Day that Changed the World

            We can cure a multitude of diseases, create safer cars, trucks, bridges, railroads and increase emergency response times to greatly reduce fatalities from accidents and illnesses but we can’t seem to save ourselves from our most deadly enemy, hate.
            Smarter inventions, closer communications, charities, giving and expressions of love don’t rid our world of hate so virulent it destroyed innocent people, people unattached to the haters, people unaware they were on a deadly path.  
            Ten years ago, on 9/11, I lost my innocence along with hundreds of thousands of other Americans. I lost my ability to believe, like Anne Frank did, that underneath it all, people are basically good. In one day my beliefs were destroyed, along with those of all New Yorkers, that we were safe or could ever be safe again from people who hate.
            To those who lost people they loved, people they depended upon because of the actions of those who hate, there is nothing I can say to you to bring your loved ones back. But I can assure you I will never forget those who died at the hands of the haters.
            Every spring, when the daffodils gifted to New York City from Holland to commemorate those who died on 9/11 bloom, I stop, look and remember. They lived, worked and loved in my city and I try to keep the haters from removing the memories of their love from those of us left behind.  


28 comments:

Alix said...

A beautiful tribute. Lest we forget.

Jean Joachim Books said...

Thank you, Alix.

Kellie Kamryn said...

Beautiful post Jean. Well said.

S.Lira said...

A lovely tribute!

Liz said...

beautifully said.
thanks

High Five Bakeshop said...

Touching post, Jean. We will never forget!
My 16yr old mentioned today that she can't remember anything that happened in her young life before that day. It's quite unfair that her memories begin with tragedy. Unfortunately, it's far too common a story.

Jean Joachim Books said...

Thank you, Liz. Yes, Robin, I agree that is a residual tragedy for the children who were around then. My sons will never be the same either.

Kharisma Rhayne said...

wonderful post. My kids are young enough that they don't remember...thankfully -- and I hope they never experience anything like it.

Jean Joachim Books said...

Thank you, Kharisma. I hope so, too. I hope all the children of the world are safe from the haters out there.

Sandy Nachlinger said...

Lovely.

Anonymous said...

I can truly identify. Thanks. Another 21 gun salute for you.

An Open Book said...

Eloquently stated Jean- a breathtaking post of rememberance

Dawne P

Bookalicious Traveladdict said...

Beautiful post Jean. I am from England but I still cry every time I see footage of the event. I remember watching it unfold on TV. I was a travel agent at the time, and saw the live footage of the plane into tower 2. We were trying to re-arrange people's flights for them.
I have watched every TV programme showing at the moment in relation to 9/11, even the conspiracy theories which have been refuted.
I don't know anyone who was involved but know that lots of Brits were killed too, along with many other nationalities. It was a sad day and like you I lost some trust in humanity.
I now pray for the families of those who died.

Palmaltas said...

A beautiful tribute.

Jean Joachim Books said...

Thank you, all. Yes, Lisa, I watched the Towers go down, too. Then lived with the chaos that ensued, including F-18 bombs hovering over me and my children in Riverside Park. High schools who required someone to pick up each kid because a child's parents might be dead and gone when they got home. People crying in the streets, candlelight vigils at the firehouse to commemorate our lost fire dept. And waking up every day for months having forgotten over night only to be reminded again. It is a day none of us will forget.

Unknown said...

Very powerful, Jean. Excellent work.

Lisa Worrall said...

A truly beautiful and heart-wrenching post, Jean. I am lost for words.

Jean Joachim Books said...

Thank you.

Ben Tanner said...

Very powerful and very elegantly said!

Jean Joachim Books said...

Thanks, Ben.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, Jean. Beautiful.

KaceyHammell said...

beautiful tribute. We'll never forget.

Jean Joachim Books said...

Thank you Ursula and Kacey.

Lindsay said...

Perfectly said

Muffy Wilson said...

Splendid...thank you for your beautiful tribute. God Bless America and those that gave the ultimate for our freedoms.:) xo

1000th.monkey said...

Very nice tribute.

Lydia Kang said...

Beautiful. Thank you.

Unknown said...

very nice, Jean!