After the tragic events in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania on 9/11/2001, my column was suspended and replaced by this non-humor tribute written during the day of terror.

In Tribute

The world changed today. In a city far away planes crashed into buildings and exploded, and people died… so far away – and yet so close. Our society, our freedom, so taken for granted is forever changed. Innocence crumbled in the dust today. The horror of it all fills our hearts with grief.

We take our lifestyle for granted. We live without terror. Our openness makes us vulnerable. Like war, like a surreal movie, events progress in slow motion. Our minds struggle to comprehend what our hearts understand instinctively.

We wonder where our loved ones are. This is another day that will be remembered forever. “Where were you the day the World Trade Center towers fell?” We want to reach out to those we love and hold them close, to feel the life in them.

Inside we are numb. The shock is overwhelming. Tears will not come. We turn to media, television, radio. Tell us what is happening! Tell us why! Cells phones cease to function; the internet freezes. A sense of hopelessness fills us with numbness. What can we do?

We are afraid and we want to be near to those we care about. We want to hug the ones we love. The human instinct is alive. We pray for answers; we plead to understand.

Bomb threats. Buildings evacuated. Chaos brings out the craziness in people. Planes cease to fly. Phones cease to ring as everyone watches the news.

Life goes on, but nothing is the same. Something has changed, changed, horribly changed. We are violated… and we wonder if we will ever feel safe again.

Flags fly at half mast. Tears finally flow. There is no laughter – not today.

Sheila Moss
September 11, 2001

Do you remember where you were that day and how you felt?