Sunday, September 11, 2011

A Day of Mixed Emotions

The post I write today is at the same time one of the most difficult and one of the most joyous I'll write all year.  The most difficult because it is the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that forever changed America.  One of the most joyous because it's N's eleventh birthday.  For N, his birthday is a day of many emotions, happiness, sadness, confusion, and even a little guilt for celebrating what will always be remembered as one of the most tragic days in American history.   N was a year old on the day of the attacks and will never know a birthday without the shadow of 9/11 looming over it.  It's something he never forgets and that weighs heavy on his young mind.  Every year we say a special prayer for the victims, and talk about about how N's feeling.  This year especially he wanted to do something to honor all those lost that day.  A few nights ago he came to me with a piece of paper and told me this was how he wanted his birthday cake decorated.  The paper had a picture of the flag with the words, pentagon, twin towers, and sacred field under it.  He had also written "All those lost will be remembered on a special birthday."  So today my mom and I are working to make a special cake that will be N's tribute to the victims of 9/11.  

For us today will always be a day of many emotions.  We never forget the events of 9/11 and we pray for the victims.  We also celebrate N's birthday with gusto.  For the past eleven years he has filled our lives with happiness, laughter, and love.  Happy birthday N!  It's been an amazing eleven years!      

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