September 11, 2001

[Squirt's Mom]

I walked into the University where I was working to find my boss crying in her office. When I asked what was wrong, she said, "You don't know? You haven't heard?" She told me about the first plane hitting the tower in NYC but at that point, no one understood we were being attacked - it was assumed to be a simple plane crash.

We went into a classroom where there was a TV to watch the reruns. The instructor for that class was already there, and in tears himself because he had friends who worked in that tower. As we watched live feeds from the twin towers, one burning brightly, the second plane flew into the second tower - and the world knew this was not an accident. Soon after this, we heard about the 3rd plane going down in a field and one that hit the Pentagon. No, this was no accident - it was intentional.

I will never forget the emotions that washed over me in those few minutes and that continued to bathe me for months after. Over the next days and weeks, I found the manifests for those planes and it became very, very real when I realized children, babies, had been on those planes. Truly innocent lives snuffed out, their last moments in abject terror. My first grandchild was due in a month and I was absolutely terrified about the world this child would be born into. Would they know the joy of childhood that I had known, free from fear of assault, free of bombs exploding in their neighborhood, free to grow into an adult?

In response to this attack, many of our young men and women flocked to recruitment centers, joining the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Among those young men and women was my friend's son. Sgt. Michael Yarbrough gave the ultimate sacrifice for his family, my grandsons, for us all - and many more have given their all as well. My friend, Rhonda Elise Kidder, Michael's mom, also gave the ultimate sacrifice for us as so many mothers and fathers have. Rhonda will never be the same. I will never be the same. The United States of America will never be the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px5YcOeQB4I

[molly muffin]

It's a poignant day when we stop and remember the events of this day. What we are doing, who we lost, who we almost lost and how many did in fact, lose so much.

I think we lost most of all an innocence that we cannot get back. It changed the way not just Americans but everyone looked at the world around them, at their neighbors and other countries. Suddenly it seemed that everything that use to be benign and just innocent had an importance that it never did before.

So when we stop and remember, lets also remember an innocence that we held as one people and since this is a dog forum.... I would say, if we could look at the world with a dogs eyes, what would we see. We would see, those around us, whom we love unconditionally, who share their food with us, who share the comfort of a safe home with us, we would see that strangers we meet on the street might have a kind word and a laugh to share. We would see love and kindness hopefully in a perfect doggie world. I know it isn't a perfect doggie world, not even for all dogs and all I can hope is that they too one day, can know those things that we all should have and treasure most of all.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Squirt's Mom]

Amen, Sharlene, Amen.