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Yesterday

September 12, 2011 by Miranda Leave a Comment

Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again.
Wisely improve the present. It is thine.
Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Yesterday was September 11th. A day of infamy.

Except for me, yesterday was a normal day full of normal things.

As Thoreau wrote, and as I paraphrase, if you’ve read of one disaster, you need never read of another disaster again. One is enough. I didn’t go out of my way to watch the original footage of images as they were replayed yesterday. I saw them once. In real time. That was enough for my lifetime. And in the days following those attacks, I saw that same footage replayed enough so that I will never forget them.

Yesterday, I didn’t light candles.

I didn’t watch the memorials on television.

Yesterday, I lived.

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I built castles and “uh-oh’ed” them over into piles of ordinary blocks. I read books. I snuggled my son. I let Joshua feed me bites of Frosty. I spent time with my husband.

I made memories.

And in making those memories I thought to myself “This! This is what it’s supposed to be about!”

In my way, I honored the memories of those who lost their lives that day or who gave their lives trying to save those who lost their lives. I honored the men and women who’ve lost their lives fighting overseas. I honor those who are making sacrifices of time with their families to continue to fight those wars.

I honored them by living.

We honor them by living.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. TheNextMartha says

    September 12, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Perfect

    Reply
    • Miranda says

      September 13, 2011 at 6:14 pm

      Thank you.

      Reply
  2. Kisha says

    September 12, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    We cleaned the garage while the kids were off camping with the grandparents. We went on a date. We lived the American Dream, if I may say so myself. For a minuet I worried that we werent being sad or vigilant enough. Thank you for reminding me how important living is.

    Reply
    • Miranda says

      September 13, 2011 at 6:16 pm

      I thought that, too. That I wasn’t being sad. That something was wrong with me because I wasn’t mourning, and perhaps I would feel differently regarding that mourning if I’d lost someone I knew personally that day. But I know that what I want after my life isn’t for those I leave behind to weep and mourn for the life I’ve lost. I want them to rejoice for the life I lived and to keep living their own lives.

      Reply
  3. Mama says

    September 13, 2011 at 7:01 am

    I too remembered. The same way you did, by living. I dared to watch the dreadful footage of helpless people, making my self helpless. I will never forget what happened on that day, not just on the anniversay but everyday. Life continues for those that remain, making memories so those we make memories with will never forget, the joy they bring us, the love in our hearts for them. I could go on but you my dear have said it well!

    Reply
    • Miranda says

      September 13, 2011 at 6:17 pm

      Thanks for teaching me to keep living.

      Reply
  4. molly says

    September 13, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Good for you. It’s the way it should be ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Miranda says

      September 13, 2011 at 6:18 pm

      I’m thankful for Sunday. It was a really good day.

      Reply
  5. Margaret (@goodbadfamily) says

    September 13, 2011 at 10:55 am

    I watched some memorials in the morning until my life woke up. Then is was brunch, park, and kids all day long. But every time I was an air liner fly overhead I remembered. It still breaks my heart to this day.

    Margaret (@goodbadfamily)

    Reply
    • Miranda says

      September 13, 2011 at 6:19 pm

      It breaks my heart to remember, but if we allow every piece of tragedy to repeatedly break our hearts, we’re just broken, you know?

      We remember. But we keep going.

      Reply
  6. Roxanne says

    September 13, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    Yes. This is how it should be.

    Reply
    • Miranda says

      September 13, 2011 at 6:21 pm

      I feel like quoting Thoreau here for some reason ๐Ÿ™‚

      Also, thank you.

      Reply
  7. Carol says

    September 14, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    Well done. I watched and lost myself in the tragedy all over again. I think in the future, I’ll spend more time doing exactly what you did.

    Reply
  8. Hopes@Staying Afloat! says

    September 14, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    I’m so glad you did. We did the same thing. We got out the pool for the kids. Had water balloon fights etc. My husband and I had a moment while the kiddos were in bed to remember those who were lost and send our thoughts to those that have lost loved ones. But most of the day was family time…and living.

    Reply

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