Patriotism in the Form of Beads, Love and Innocence: A Project That Spans the Ages

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a normal late summer day like any other. The family was trying to get into the routine of school starting and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

September 11, 2001, began as any other day in our home. The alarm went off, breakfast was eaten, lunches packed. At a little after 8 am, my oldest son and I set off for the bus stop across the street, smiling and laughing at the sunny September weather. My son teased me about "getting older", and was I going to spend my gift certificates on "old lady clothing"? You see, September 11th was my Birthday and I felt nothing could ruin my plans for a "me day"! That is, until we heard the news.

I like many Americans, brushed off the news of the first attack on the World Trade Center as an "accident". A plane gone astray, as it were. I wondered though, even then, if it could be more, but not wanting to upset the kids at the bus stop with questions, I kept up the light hearted banter with them over classes, crushes and "cool" stuff, until at long last the bus came.

Waving the kids off, I rushed back across the street to inform my husband about the events unfolding before our eyes. We watched as the news came in about the 2nd tower to be hit, the attack on the Pentagon, the crash in Pennsylvania and the fleeing of the WTC. My husband, unable to delay work any longer, left me with our 3 year old, to watch history unfolding before my very eyes. I was horrified to say the least, as were most who witnessed this unprecedented event.

As I sat glued to the TV, my youngest came up to me, jolting me out of my shock with his innocent words. "The plane boomed into the building. the planes are all gone! Are you OK Mommy? Please don't cry!" As he climbed onto my lap, lying his silky head on my shoulder, reaching out as it were for comfort, it dawned on me that over 2 hours had passed and soon I would face the task of explaining this event to my oldest son.