We are who we thought we were

That line is famous from Dennis Green a former NFL football coach who after being defeated in a football game (too tired to go get actual footage sorry) rambled on in a press conference like few before him had. It was pretty funny, but the phrase seemed fitting considering today.

I had only been at my job for a little over 3 years and Erin and I had just recently celebrated our 1st anniversary.  I woke up that day getting ready for work as I did most everyday, Erin watching Saved by the Bell on TBS ( I'm soooooooooo excited......I'm soooooooooooo excited......Zach help me).  After I finished getting dressed I turned on the Today show where the headline was "Michael Jordan to come out of retirement to play for the Wizards" was the lead story.  Micheal Jordan did not need to come back, but the desire to play at a high level was too great or perhaps his gambling debts were so great that the Illuminati threatened him who knows.... I believe he had mediocre results and he wasn't quite what he thought he was

I arrive at work and put on my headset still filled with that youthful joy that says that the Customers are not bent on making me miserable and that one of my co-workers wasnt trying to sap my life force.  I wasn't far removed from the greatest tragedy in my life and had just gotten back to the point of dealing with things.  Then everything went numb

"Anyone hear anything?"
"Something about the World Trade Center"
"Why is someone calling me asking if I am alright"
"Erin why are you...huh what do you mean...that doesnt make wait they want us to go downstairs I'll call you back, I have been told to turn the phones off, yes I am ok honey I love you too"

Say what you will about where I work and what I do, but we stopped, the world stopped and we prayed.  I prayed with a guy named Pete, an older man who had been on trips to Israel and loved the Jewish people.  We cried.

I got home and Erin and I held each other, her family are not the huggy type that was a gene passed in spades in my family however.  But we held each other, we called friends, looked up in the sky and listened for planes.  It was so quiet, not like out in the country quiet but that uneasy quiet as you ponder what comes next.  As it became clear that a small group of attackers were responsible and their leader would spend the next ten years broadcasting his hate, it was clear this was time to figure out what  we were as a nation.  We were brave in the face of unspeakable horror, we were angry, we were loving, we were hateful, we were confused.  In that span of time we saw lawmakers standing on the steps singing God Bless America which if they stood together now it might be a bit uneasy.  We saw kindness on a global scale with so many workers came to the aid of those who fell.  Then I went to Wal-Mart..

Collin and I went to Wal-Mart today to get some supplies for the house and I am going down the road when I see off to the side a man on a bullhorn exclaiming "9/11 is a lie, it was an inside job"  They assembled their free speech right next to the BP complete with homemade misspelled sign "The Truth abouth 9/11 the Truth Cormission." 

I am easy going as can be but I found myself debating whether or not I could drive the car through their sign while getting gas.  Then I saw my son wave at them and say "Daddy they silly"  Yeah son they are but we are America a land of freedom beyond compare where those guys can have their sign, without fear of the police taking them away for questioning only to find themself in jail for many years.  Where I can raise my children to love others and help others and have compassion, where I am fortunate to have work and a roof over my head.  Where I can still go to church without fear of government shutdown.  We are blessed beyond measure and we are who we thought we were Americans who in the face of a great tragedy can still come together and face the challenges ahead.  Those attackers couldn't stand that.  May we never forget the sacrifices of so many for our freedoms.