this day

I know life has to go on; that we have to function as humans, as Americans, as responsible adults. We can't sit paralyzed in our grief. But I just really believe that there must be more of a way to mark this day in the rest of the country. I'm sitting here alternating between being sad that more of an effort hasn't been made to do so and mad that my AOL email has a header right now telling us that it's "Free Chocolate Friday", as if getting a free pack of freaking M&Ms is the most important thing to remember today. Yes, it's been designated a National Day of Service, but how about giving people a paid holiday so that they can actually go do something for someone else without losing a day's pay or fearing for their jobs? How about schools taking all the students on a field trip to their local fire and police stations, or military bases with posters and banners to thank our service people? I think our getting back into the routine as a country has made a lot of people outside NYC, Shanksville, and D.C. (or who didn't lose a friend or relative) forget and/or minimize the significance of this day. And so, I am all for the idea of stepping out of the routine to take back this day as something good.

Every year it's a blessing to hear my cousin's thoughts on the matter - she lives in NJ and works in NYC, very close to Ground Zero. Today is no exception. Thanks, Amy.