I won't bore you with my story of that day -- we've all got our story. Where we were, what we felt, how paralyzed we were. As I said on our podcast last night, the simplest way for me to sum that day up is to say it was the worst day of my life. I can only hope it remains the worst and that nothing that tragic happens again in my lifetime. I still, to this day, feel like I've been stabbed through the heart when I think about it. And I also feel lucky and appreciative for all of those I have in my life -- and how we all banded together and cared about one another.
Some of you are very nice people -- some aren't. And that's definitely okay. We're jerks sometimes, too. But today's a good day to make a point of being nicer, being more appreciative, saying hello, wishing others a nice weekend, etc. And remembering. Always remember.
As our banner says today, To Remember Is To Honor. It's a simple enough statement, but it says it all. There's a certain feeling of helplessness that comes with this day -- what more can we be doing than talking about it? How do we honor those who perished? How do we raise them up? And the answer is just what we've said -- remember them. For there is no greater way to honor those fallen than to keep them in your minds, hearts and prayers.
On 9/11/01, we weren't Republicans or Democrats; Purdue fans or UND fans; East Coasters, West Coasters or Midwesterners.... we were just brothers and sisters. We were one. And so I find solace in the fact that on the worst day of my life, I was most proud of all of us.