One cannot reflect on 2001 without immediately going to 9/11 - the event that eclipsed all other events of the year.
In those days, we used to go to bed with the TV on and would wake in the morning with it already on Fox News. Dick had just gone to the bathroom and I was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching the first reactions to the first plane. Just as they were reflecting on how a commercial airline could have gone so far off course to hit the tower, the second plane hit and slowly the reality sank in.
We shed so many tears that week, and we lowered our flag to half mast - the only time we ever did. I can still remember the emotions at that time, and as is normal with me, put my feelings on paper. I wish I had kept a copy of that, but unfortunately I didn't.
I do remember writing that it was a shame that the feeling of 'country' and 'fellowship' that prevailed at that time, when color, race, and other differences fell aside and we were all Americans, would not last. And how true that was!
We have had other terrorist attacks since then, but none with the enormity of 9/11. I hope I don't experience that again and none of our grandkids, and great-grandkids do, but that is probably wishful thinking!. The days of the old holy wars between Christian and Muslim are regretfully back with us.
