May You Always Remember And Never Forget...

Friends, one & all: I begin this post on the most solemn of days for us as New Yorkers, those in Pennsylvania & Washington DC & all over the world, with kind of a humorous touch; the title of today's offering is a line that was frequently spoken by the character of Duane Schneider, the handyman-dujour of the apartment building where the main characters lived on the mid-70's to mid-80's sitcom "One Day at a Time" whenever he was about to regale one or more of the other characters with his brand of "wisdom" & advice on any & all topics; it is more than appropriate as the title of today's post---as I started my good nite post on Facebook with last nite regarding today: "I have nothing profound to say that hasn't already been said..." and that holds true as I write this as well--I can remember that I was supposed to be going down to that area of the city for an interview; unbeknownst to me, my mother already had the first reports coming through on Channel 7 because she was watching her daily dose of Regis Philbin & his morning show--I was upstairs about to come down & have some breakfast when I got a call from an on/off girlfriend at the time asking me to turn on the TV & watch what was unfolding...several of my close friends were down there that day (one I didn't know at the time, the wife of one of my best friends) & one of my closest & dearest friends is EMS & was there & not heard from for well over 24 hours or more (I text him today as I do every year just to tell him I was thinking about him & telling him to be safe)--I remember trying to call the company I was going to for the interview & of course, the phone just rang & rang (probably more downed lines than no one being there)--like everyone else you'd ask, I can't believe it's been 10 years; & just to re-iterate also from last nite's sign-off FB post, as sad & solemn as this day is, we don't need an "anniversary" to remember all those lost in all the locations where these atrocities occurred, or to continue to pray for all the families of all the victims, or to be thankful for & bless the ones who survived--they are all in our hearts every day & especially as New Yorkers, if we are in the city or anywhere near it, we think of, if not actually see where the Towers used to stand, we remember their majestic beauty, we are sad & angry & a host of different emotions for their not being there--it's a given that none of us will ever forget; we shouldn't forget, we should remember what was done & we should get down on our knees & thank whatever God we each pray to that we are still here to talk about that day, for better or worse--it's a shame that we feel we have to be on our guards every day & worry about the next threat (like the other day) or the possibility of the next attack; it's a shame that we look at those who remind us of the perpertrators of that day & do our own form of "profiling" aside from what is done in that vein, legally or not (a constant debate, for sure)--anyway, before I completely live up to this blog's title again, let's all light a candle, proudly display the American flag & pray for peace & the absence of the kind of religious fanaticism & revenge on any scale that caused this to be an anniversary of any kind--I wish you all peace; be safe & be strong, my dear friends & loved ones--Good Nite :)