Can you believe it’s been ten years? It feels like just yesterday and yet a lifetime ago.
I vividly remember that Tuesday morning drive to work. The sky was a dazzling blue, the air just the right amount of crisp for my favorite denim jacket. It was one of those perfect fall days that made you wish you could bottle it up and keep it around for the whole month.
At that time, I was working in the advertising department at a department store that’s since closed its doors, while my husband Sam was busy at the Capitol. We were newlyweds, living in downtown DC, and celebrating our daughter Lily’s first birthday. We started the day with some dog-friendly cupcakes at the park and had grand plans for a special dinner that night. Life was blissfully uncomplicated, revolving around our little trio.
Then, the unimaginable happened. The news broke that the first tower had been hit, and we all rushed to the break room, eyes glued to the screen as the horror unfolded. I watched in disbelief as the second tower was struck live; it was clear this was no accident. The room fell silent, and we were all left in shock. The images of people plummeting from the buildings are burned into my memory. These were ordinary folks, just like us, going about their day, and suddenly their lives were turned upside down. It was a nightmare.
As newscasters warned that DC might be next, I couldn’t reach Sam. Panic set in, and I fled the office, hoping to find him at home. I felt like I was in a movie, playing the part of a terrified wife. Meanwhile, Sam was evacuating the Capitol, dodging chaos as he navigated the city, while I grappled with heavy traffic on the Key Bridge. Hours later, I finally made it home, and seeing him there felt like a relief I hadn’t known I needed. We embraced tightly, tears streaming down our faces, both of us feeling like the world was ending.
For weeks after, I was glued to the television, mourning the lives lost—the spouses, the parents, the children. I kept replaying the “what-ifs” in my mind. What if that last plane hadn’t been stopped in Pennsylvania? What if Sam hadn’t made it out? What if it happened again?
Each night, helicopters circled above us as we tried to find sleep. Restaurants that used to be bustling were eerily empty. Stores reopened, but shopping felt trivial. We were all just moving through life in a fog. After hearing about a neighbor lost in the Pentagon attack, I vowed never to have children. Why bring new lives into a world where such horrible things could happen?
But then again, at that time, everything felt unthinkable.
And now, ten years later, here we are.
If you’re curious about starting your own family journey, you might find helpful insights in this post from our friends at Make a Mom. For more resources on pregnancy and home insemination, check out Healthline.
In summary, while the world may seem daunting at times, it’s also filled with hope and new beginnings.