Looking back, looking forward
It seems almost impossible to believe that the terrorist attacks of September 11 happened ten years ago. Thinking back to that day, I can exactly picture the layout of our suite in Chambers 4. My teammates and I had already been up for crew practice and returned from our usual breakfast feast, so I was glued to the television as the morning news redirected their cameras onto the twin towers at the World Trade Center upon hearing that a plane had flown into the North Tower. I watched the second plane fly into the South Tower live. Then we just sat there, in shock, wondering what to do.

Photo courtesy of U of R’s Photo Fridays on Facebook
Being in Rochester, we felt safe, but we knew that many, many of our fellow students would have connections to New York City and those who died that day. Ultimately the university cancelled classes that day, but was grateful that Dr. Mary Fox invited anyone who wanted to attend our Feminism, Gender and Health class to talk about what had happened that day or just to be in the company of others. It was the first time it became clear to me that only by coming together as a collective that any of us would be able to move forward from the fright of that clear blue morning in a positive way.

Photo courtesy of U of R’s Photo Fridays on Facebook
Now, with so many memorials happening today, in places near and far from where the attacks occurred, and all sorts of special media coverage, it seems odd not to engage with the anniversary in some way. Yet, at the same time, it seems weird to continue to look back to that day. I recognize the value of such commemoration for those who lost loved ones on September 11, but as with those moving through stages of grief, it seems like we must ultimately get to the point where we’re focused on moving forward.

I hope that by the time Hazel’s old enough to hear about the events of September 11, she’s seen how we’ve done that. I really like how Lynne Steuerle Schofield - whose mother was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 (which crashed into the Pentagon) - shared her similar opinions in the Washington Post today.
So today, I’m writing in celebration of all those close to us, who have been a part of our lives over the last 10 years (and Hazel’s last ten months!). And, of course, a very special birthday wish to my dad!
XO,
Lindsey