Here we are, at yet another 9.11 anniversary. I find it difficult to know how to most appropriately address such a somber and emotionally-laden anniversary- perhaps the single worst day in this nation’s history. Six years later, I find myself without a whole lot to say- at least nothing new or original. Yes, I have my own memories of that terrible day, but at this point I no longer feel the need to share them. I, like many Americans, can remember 9.11.01 as if it was yesterday, but it really was six years ago, and while the memories still impact me deeply and profoundly, I no longer feel any need to publicly process my grief. I may be moving on, but I certainly haven’t forgotten. Indeed, not a day goes by that I don’t think about 9.11. Most of these memories involve my friend and college classmate Tim Haviland, who worked for Marsh & McLennan on the 96th floor of 1 World Trade Center. I imagine those thoughts and memories will be with me forever, which is perhaps as it should be. A tragedy of the scale and scope of 9.11 is in every respect this generation’s Pearl Harbor. The memories of and the lessons taught by 9.11 SHOULD be with us throughout the course of our lifetimes. Speaking for myself- and only for myself- I no longer need to mark every anniversary with sober reflection and profound sadness. For me, this feels like a good thing. I’ve been to Ground Zero, and I’ve lived with 9.11 daily for the past six years. Now, I’ve chosen to take a different route.
This year, I want to laugh. No more tears, no more sorrow; Lord knows I’ve had my share of those. No, this time around, I want to celebrate life by laughing. I don’t see how this could be construed as being blasphemous or as disrespecting the memory of those who were murdered on 9.11. I’ve simply chosen to mark this anniversary in a manner decidedly different from how I’ve observed the past five.
You won’t see me treating today as another opportunity to wallow in my grief. I’m not looking down at anyone who might be approaching today differently; this is simply what I’ve chosen for myself. It may, or may not, work for you, but then this is a free country and you can mark this anniversary as you see fit.
As far as I’m concerned, we’ve seen enough blood and tears (apologies to the late Yitzhak Rabin) stemming from 9.11. Three thousand in this country, a few thousand in Afghanistan, untold thousands in Iraq. Yes, we’re losing this war…whoever it may be against. It would be easy to become and remain angry- and I certainly couldn’t blame those who travel that path, because I still find myself travelling it from time to time. I just can’t do it full-time anymore. I need to laugh, to be able to celebrate life…because this is what seems to me to be the most appropriate way to honor the untold thousands whose deaths can be directly traced in one way or another to 9.11. Enough bloodshed, enough death, enough hatred, recrimination and suffering. It’s time to laugh…for me, anyway….
