Dates

There are some days

that sincerely haunt us,

some days that make us

cringe, or blush, laugh or shake

our heads as we remember

how we felt, how we acted

that day. A memory of a day gone by.

But I think it’s rare that we

remember the actual date

of our joy or shame. We look

at the calendar and the numbers

have no effect on our memory,

we just know that it happened

on some random day, oh so long ago.

There’s only one set of numbers

that, for me, and maybe for others,

that truly is branded into memory and

is simply unforgettable. We see it

at least twice a day sometimes and it

never fails to remind us.

Three little numbers, we’ve always

only known as the way to summon

emergency responders. Three

numbers we’ve heard so many times,

even William Shatner hosted a TV show

with those numbers. (Kudos if you

remember the show.)

Three numbers, now in the pantheon

of infamous dates. Never to be forgotten

by those who bore witness. Never to be

disregarded every time the clock changes

from nine-ten to nine-eleven.  Never to

be out of mind when you look at a

calendar for September.

A date, a moment, a blink of the eye,

a second spent in memory of where you

were and what you were doing, if you cried,

if you held you hand to your mouth, if you

reached for the hand of a loved one.

You think of it every time you see those

numbers, even if just for a millisecond,

you think about it.

I’m wearing my American Flag

lapel pin today. I never forget to

put it on when I see this date on my

calendar. It’s less about patriotism and

more about solemn reverence and

remembrance.  We remember they

died. But embrace that they lived.