Ten years ago tonight, I was in pain. A silly injury to my toe had me laid up. Ten years ago tonight, a new NFL season had just started and I was watching the Giants and the Broncos play the first Monday night game of the year. Ten years ago tonight, I’d just quit my job to begin work at my new business. Ten years ago tonight, life was normal.
Ten years ago tonight, Usama bin Laden was alive. Ten years ago tonight, the American public had never heard of Mohammed Atta. Ten years ago tonight, average Americans were getting kids ready for the beginning days of a new school year and preparing for their work day.
Ten years ago tonight, two thousand nine hundred and seventy seven innocent people had no idea that they were experiencing their last moments on earth. Ten years ago tonight, firefighters, police men and women and paramedics were with their families laughing.
Ten years ago tomorrow, the world was irrevocably changed in the matter of moments.
Ten years later, I am in pain. The pain of the attack on our country penetrated my soul and I will never be the same.
Ten years later, there is football again. But there are also metal detectors and bomb sniffing dogs to greet us as we enter the stadiums.
Ten years later, Usama bin Laden is dead but the terror threat is still at hand. Ten years later, average Americans are getting ready to remember and honor two thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven brave souls who simply were just going on about their day on that beautiful Tuesday morning.
Ten years later, those two thousand nine hundred and seventy seven are only the first victims of that day. There are countless families that have been destroyed in the aftermath of the attack. Not only the families of the victims but families of the first responders, the volunteers and even families not even directly related to the attacks.
Ten years later, people are changed. Some for the better and some for the worse. Ten years later, there are still more American flags displayed than there were before the attacks. Ten years later, firefighters, the police and EMTs are still treated as rock stars even though they have always been heroes.
Ten years later, my four and six year daughters will never know a world without a war on terror. They will never have a September 11 where they don’t watch their mother cry like I did that day.
Our world changed forever that beautiful Tuesday morning and I for one, will never forget.
