Five Years Later....

A Quick Introductory Note:I have written this post for myself because I want most of all for my journal to be just that: a journal that I can look upon in a few--or many--years time. I am leaving it unlocked, however, because I think [hope?] that discussing and thinking about these things will help us in the end, whether in the practical sense of inspiring policy change or in the emotional sense of understanding what happened five years ago and how we were all changed that day.

I know a lot of you are sharing your thoughts online. I have read them all, even if I did not comment. My own thoughts and views follow. Because I know that some would rather not read political opinions associated with 9/11, I have divided the post into two parts. If you want to read my personal story, you will know that the topic is going to change by my usual line break "~oOo~".

Likewise, if you prefer me ranting on a soapbox to squicky personal posts [because this is a very personal story and not a time in my life that I like to talk about] then you are, of course, welcome to amuse yourself with my usual pissing and moaning, keeping mind that these are, of course, my opinions, and as my father-in-law is fond of saying: "Opinions are like ass****s; everyone's got one, and sometimes, they stink."

~oOo~

Today is the five-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I know that I am not alone in saying that I will always remember that day: where I was, what I was doing, how I felt. I often hear people say how they can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard about the attacks.

( My 9/11 Story (cut for angst and personal shtuff) )

( Have We Learned *Anything* from All of This?? (cut for slightly rantish behavior on possibly inflammatory political topics) )