A Weekend of Mourning
After the events of September 11th, the weekend following Labor Day has been changed for many generations to come. Instead of being a time to catch up with friends and chat about our all-too-short three day holiday weekend, it is a time marked by sober memorials and remembrance. The atrocious events of 9/11/2001 have been forever scarred into the memory of every American. People across the country will pull together to remember strangers who will never be forgotten.
Like many Americans, I remember the day well. My dad is an early riser, so he was one of the first to know. He burst into my room, yelling for me to “Wake up! They bombed the World Trade Center!” I got up and did my morning routine, but it wasn’t until relatives started calling in from overseas that I realized this might be quite serious. It was another another 30 minutes before I realized that I have cousins in New York City. We would later learn that they were ok, but it was a bit of a scare. Even without counting them among the casualties, it was heart wrenching to watch those Towers fall.
Ground Zero, 5 years after the 9/11 attacks
For me though, the weekend of mourning won’t end there. Although remembering September 11th will take precedence in many hearts and minds this weekend, I also have to say a prayer for those affected by the San Bruno pipeline explosion. Not only because of all the lives changed on 9/9/2010, but because this hit much closer to home for me. I remember watching the streaming news footage, slack jawed as the fire grew to immense proportions. My friends remember me telling them over and over that this was no plane crash – there was definitely something feeding the fire. The epicenter of the blast, a mere 4 miles from the house I grew up in, was a frequent stomping ground for me while I was learning to drive. One of the victims, Jessica Morales, graduated from the same high school as me. I felt so helpless from 400 miles away as the fire lay waste to 55 homes, claiming a total of 8 lives and injuring 66 in the process. I tried to account for my friends who could have been in the area – in the end, no one I knew personally had been hurt. Still, I often go back to visit the site when I’m in the Bay Area, to remember those who lost their lives due to a company’s negligence.
On September 9, 2010, a vicious natural gas pipeline explosion laid waste to a once vibrant neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
While we remember these dark days in history this weekend, it’s also paramount to celebrate the incredible perseverance, bravery, and kindness that we saw. It’s important to recognize that despite people who conspire against us, we’re still standing here. It’s events like these that remind us how incredible the human spirit is, and what a wonderful nation we live in. For that, we must be thankful.