September 11th

Ten years ago today the events of 9/11/2001 took place.  I was just a sophomore in high school and at the time I never could have imagined how the events that day would shape and change my life, and the lives of everyone in our country, forever. 

On that day I never imagined that today I would be married to a soldier.  A soldier who has been deployed to Iraq as a direct result of the events that took place on 9/11.  A soldier who is now gone again serving our country and whose friends are about to embark on a deployment to Afghanistan. 

For me, the impact of 9/11/2001 goes far beyond tightened airport security.  I can't help but wonder all of the ways that my life would have been different if 9/11 had never taken place.  Hubby still probably would have joined the military but would he have been deployed?  Would we have gotten married sooner?  Would Americans still believe that we are invincible?  Would we have a different president?  Would our economy be different?  Certainly many lives would have been saved. 

However, I would like to believe that something good has come out of all of this.  I would like to believe that as Americans we have a renewed appreciation of the place that we live in.  I would like to believe that we have positively impacted the lives of many children and innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan, giving them opportunities they never would have had under Taliban control.  I would like to believe that the American people appreciate our military for what they give up to protect our nation, whether they agree with the war or not.   

Obviously it would be naive of me to believe that everyone believes each of the above sentiments but it is my hope that a few have and that we will become better people growing out of the ashes of tragedy.  After all from the ashes arises the Phoenix with a glimmer of hope that can never be extinguished.