I remember.

I remember very clearly what I was doing, where I was, what I thought and felt when I first found out about what was happening on 9/11.  I remember watching the towers fall live on television, as I was home schooled back then and had been doing my schoolwork on the living room floor.  I remember seeing confusion and fear on my mother's face, even though she tried to hide it.  I remember seeing injured and dying people being carried away on the television, seeing reporters talk about those who were screaming for help beneath the rubble.

Actually, the thing I remember the most clearly from everything about 9/11 would have to be a video montage I saw a couple of days later.  The video consisted of photographs of people leaping from the buildings.  I remember asking my dad what they were doing and when he replied that they were committing suicide, I felt extremely confused and distressed.

At nearly nine years old, I didn't understand the concept of murder, suicide, hatred, grief.  I had never experienced death before.  And even though I lived across the nation from New York City, I felt unbearable grief after the towers were attacked.

9/11 changed my life in many ways.  I can't imagine how much it changed the lives of those who lost loved ones that day.

I can't believe it's been ten years.

My heart fills with strength when I log onto Facebook, Yahoo News, look outside and see the sea of flags...  America hasn't forgotten and I don't think it ever will.  An attack that was supposed to tear us apart has instead brought an entire nation together.  Today, I haven't seen articles about democrats or republicans or politics.  I've seen unity, strength, and reverence.

I admire that.