Memories of 9/11 & My Girls

My 6 year old asked me this evening as I was showing the girls a brief set of 9/11 pictures on my computer sent to me by a friend:

"Mom, do you ever want to be a bad guy?"

Hmmm.

I think the question came from my comments while we were looking through the pictures. Some might not agree with me for being so up front with my girls who are only 6 and 8. The reality of what happened that day is so far beyond their understanding at this time, however living in New Jersey back then, I can still remember sitting in front of the TV that morning watching it all, wondering if my husband at the time had made it to his meeting in one of the towers he was late leaving for about two hours earlier. For some odd reason he had decided to run to the DMV that morning, (something he had been procrastinating about for several months mind you), and fortunately that first stop caused him to only reach the George Washington Bridge at the time the first plane hit. It took him days to account for his team.

They asked me how many people died. They asked me when I am going to die. My message to them is simply this:

Life is so precious. You never know what will happen to you or those you love, and that is why you need to take each day and enjoy it. If there is one thing I ask of you as a person, it is be kind to others, and always remember how important it is to help other people.

When I die, I want people to think good of me - how I was a good friend, a good person, someone who helped others and was always kind. While we lost over 3000 people that day, there were thousands more that risked their lives for days and weeks to help save others there who needed help. Some of these police officers, firemen, volunteers didn't sleep for days and days because they knew people needed them. That's the kind of person I want to be. That's what I want you to remember about our country and the people that live here.

Goodnight girls. I love your kind little souls.