Remembering

On September 11, 2002, I was working at the Quaker School and since it was a Wednesday, each division held Meeting for Worship. Middle School met outdoors that day, and that was the Meeting I chose to attend.

At one point, as the students shared their thoughts about the significance of the day, one little girl stood and said, "Everyone says it is a terrible day and it is a terrible day. But it is also my birthday, so there are good things about even a terrible, terrible day."

At the close of the Meeting, I found her and said, "I'm glad you were born! It's also my son's birthday and I wish I could give him a birthday hug. But he lives far away and I can't. May I give you a birthday hug instead?" She opened her arms and she opened her heart and we stood there together for a long, sweet moment. And every year after that, as long as she was at the school, she would come and find me on September 11 for a birthday hug.

Today, twenty years after September 11, 2001, I'm remembering once again, that even on a terrible, terrible day, there are good things. And sending warmest birthday wishes to my Tom, to Paul, to Woody's Mom, to Natalie's husband, and the others whose birthdays today break into the terribleness.