Perspective

On Monday, September 10^th, 2001 a hose in my sink broke just when I needed to rush out the door, and I though life was being unfair.

On Monday, when you asked people how they were doing, without much thought or much contemplation, they replied “fine” or “good.”

On Monday, the papers and the news magazines were filled with stories about the new fall TV schedule.

On Monday, there were not many people in the religious section of the bookstore.

On Monday, the American flag hung, for the most part, unnoticed at government buildings and schools.

On Monday, we passed strangers on the street without much regard.

On Monday, people went to work, mostly secure in their jobs and in their retirement plans.

On Monday, I went to work as usual with enthusiasm as the job I had secured and considered to be my dream job! I was working for United Airlines at the time and I was doing what I loved to do in the panacea of where I wanted to be.

On Monday, I was excited to be planning another business trip to Denver where I had a 2^nd floor office at the airport that looked right into the cockpit of a 747.

On Tuesday, September 11

… peaceful blue skies were reported Country-wide following what had been a threat of a tornado hitting downtown Manhattan.

Then at 8:46 am America was shaken, then stood still. There was silence.

On Tuesday, September 11^th, unintending strangers died for one another.

On Tuesday, September 11^th, different things became important; blissful naiveté was lost.

On Tuesday, September 11^th, somebody tried to take America apart. America was knocked to its knees, and On Tuesday, September 11^th, America got up again.

On Tuesday, September 11^th, America came together more than ever. On this day, there were no Republicans, Democrats, yuppies, blue collars, or any “others.” There were only Americans.

On Tuesday, September 11^th, the best of the human spirit spit back into the eyes of the worst.

Some will move forward and remember that day, and others will learn about it in history books. Some will see this as a day in history; others will see it as a moment that changed time. Although this great tragedy affected so many people, people do move on. Some stronger for what they have endured, others may continue to grieve. Though it seems a distant past to some, tragedy, such as the recent bombings in France continue around the world. It is my hope, my challenge to you this holiday season to focus on all we have to be grateful for this year. We can be grateful for the food that most of us will have on our plates; grateful for the freedom that we continue to fight for and protect. We can be grateful for the many things that we have in our day-to-day lives because of our freedom. We can be grateful that more people haven’t been killed by these bombings.

My hope is that people will look around them and notice the “little” things that mean so much. The neighbor who smiles to us, walking down the street. The sound of peace in our streets. The sound of laughter in the parks. The sound of traffic that annoys us. My hope is that you will thank god, whomever your god may be for what we have, and pray for peace.

May all of you have a peaceful holiday season,

From all of us at Barnes & Klatt, P.C.