I REMEMBER...

I remember Angie waking me in a panic, telling me all "they" had done and pulling me to the TV in the living room.  I remember wondering why she had the TV on C-SPAN with all the other news channels available.  I then remember becoming so enthralled with what I was seeing, I didn't change the channel either for quite a while.  In fact, I remember not doing much anything else at all but staring at the TV in disbelief for quite a while. 

When I did finally change the channel, I remember doing it just in time to see the second plane hit the second tower and hearing the reporter gravely announce this is "no accident." 

Sometime after that, I remember simultaneously looking at the first smoldering tower, thinking it was going to collapse, listening to a reporter talk about its possible collapse, and watching in horrific amazement while it did. 

I remember a field in Pennsylvania...the Pentagon...the changing whereabouts of Air Force One...the closing of federal buildings...and so many other things, some of which, like all of us, I wish I could forget. 

I also remember calling a Tuesday night church service...steps on the Capitol full of voices singing "God Bless America"...Wal-Mart running out of flags to sell...reports of full churches for lunchtime prayer services...heightened senses of threat awareness...new airport security measures...Homeland Security..."Let's roll"...powerful feelings of American pride and Christian purpose....and so many other things that unfortunately, so many of us have long since forgotten.

I remember.  Do you?