9/11 and I Love You
Earlier this week at work, I was talking with Mike and trying to schedule a meeting for today (Thursday, September 11th). As he was looking at his calendar, he paused. And then he told me that he had often thought we should get 9/11 as an official day off.
But beyond simply “taking the day off,” his idea was that we should remember the day, and tell all the people we know and love that we love them. He told me about how he had called people after hearing the news that day, and done that very thing. Which then led to me talking about where I was that day, what I was doing.
We talked at length about our respective experiences on that day. And as I left his office I said “I love you Mike,” to which he replied “I love you too, Felix.” And it seemed an excellent close to the conversation.
I think his idea is a good one. And really, there’s nothing stopping us from telling people we love them, on any day, no matter the date. In fact, it’s probably for certain that we don’t say “I love you” to the folks we love, often enough.
I would like nothing more than to be able to step into each of your respective offices, and say this in person. But since I’ve chosen this blog as a form of communication, I’ll say it here as a start. To those of you that I haven’t yet met, and especially to those of you whom I count myself fortunate enough to know:
I love you.
Aw, you and Mike are the best. Every time this date rolls around I marvel at how paradoxically near-yet-far it feels. It’s sacred, and regardless of anyone’s political or ideological leanings, I feel it inarguable that it was a tipping point for this country in which we live.Just like anyone else, I’ve got my own “where were you when” story, but sparing the details, I’ll just say that it irrevocably changed my view of the world in which we live. Man, do I ever feel the urge to speak politically… but I believe the way you encapsulated it was best. Life is fleeting. Love the people in your life. We can never truly know when we’ll next see one another.On that note, I love all you guys! You enrich my life beyond measure.
Allison (September 11, 2008 at 9:42 pm)I love you, too, Felix. I’m very grateful to count you as a friend.
juliet (September 12, 2008 at 1:30 am)Nice that this effect is happening so far away…..here, there was a difficult time of remembering and also of wounds being reopened, where does one start and the other stop? traders took a moment of silence, my company (an IB) had a global moment of silence but i was outside, with a view of downtown, and two candles beside me. we have a boardwalk along the water, very nice with office buildings and apartments bordered by landscaping, railings the The View of NY. But many people seemed completely in their own world, somewhat puzzled by noticing me……..i used to work and live downtown, i’ve carried a coffin and i’ve been given The News and though, clearly, that part wasn’t true, it was painful and miserable in it’s disproving.so maybe i say it more often than most, but mean it as much as you do:thanks, you’re beautiful, i love you.
g (September 12, 2008 at 6:16 am)if only you told me this more when i was there…
peabe (September 13, 2008 at 9:14 pm)