We Will Not Forget

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

On September 11, 2001 I was only 3 weeks into my first job at a social services agency. As receptionist there, my duties included raising and taking down the flag every day. I arrived early and walked out to the flagpole holding the American flag and the Northern Valley Catholic Social Service flag in my arms. Do I raise it all the way, do I put it at half mast? 'What is going on?' My friend, Angela pulled in to the parking lot and rolled her window down - noticing the obvious expression of bewilderment on my face...and then she got out and came inside.

I called my then-partner who I knew would be fast asleep at home..'Babe? Babe, pick up. Turn on the TV, I need you to wake up.' Being that she was in law enforcement, I knew that there would probably be a mandatory department meeting post haste. I resumed my daily duties and that was the day that CNN.com became a bookmark on my desktop, laptop and smartphone forever after. I got home, and we went to give blood...like hundreds of others...all of us standing in line while George W. Bush was on every TV screen in the North State Blood Center building. We came home and we put up her father's American flag on the post at our house. The entire neighborhood put out flags. The entire community was quiet that night - wanting to be with their families, I'm sure.

Tonight it seems like the entire neighborhood is having a BBQ, as there are cars everywhere and kids playing in the street, patio sets in front yards. Community.

No. I will not forget.