I'm watching the 9/11 service as all of the names of those who were lost and my thoughts are with theirs families. It saddens me to hear some of those reading the names say "Although I never met my (mother/father/grandmother/grandfather, etc.) I love you and miss you." I think about my friends that lost their lives that day and I can only hope that they are at peace. I hope they know that they are missed. I miss the uncontrollable laughter that happened when the gang was all together.
I am eternally grateful that at the end of that day, my father walked through the door of our home. He was one of the first to respond like many others and arrived shortly before the first tower collapsed. We were not able to get in touch with him and did not know where he was until he walked through the door. I never take for granted that he will be around forever, so I make that most of every moment we have together. I'm grateful that my son had had the opportunity to meet his grandfather.
I'm hopeful today that in the future the world can get along in the same ways that it did in the days the followed 9/11. It was peaceful and for a change people embraced each other. We worked together because everyone was feeling the same pain and stuck together to help ease it. People were polite, patient they helped one another. I hope to see days like that again without the need for a great tragedy to get us there. I hope that is a world that we can all strive for.
"hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." - Andy Dufresne