Death Changes Us

That Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001
here in Twinsburg Ohio was a beautiful early fall day.    
The sky was solid blue and totally uninterrupted with clouds.

Officially 2973 are listed as being killed that day.

I was talking to my youngest son 10 year old Kevin

the other day.    I initiated the conversation with him.

The topic was death.

I started out by saying, ‘Kevin there are something’s

in life that are facts.    Like 2x2 equals 4.   That is a

fact and it’s not going to change.

Another fact is that we all die.    

He blurted in,

‘but you and Daddy are going to die before me’.

I half way laughed out loud and said….

‘yes, it’s most likely we will, but sometimes

children do die first’.

He responded……’hmmmmmmm’

As parents often times we try to protect our

children from pain or hurts.    We do our children

a huge disservice when we attempt to protect them

from death. 

Of course it’s a fine line from having them neurotic

or informing them that death is a natural part of life.

As a child I was not protected in anyway from death.

If there was a funeral or a wake, we attended right along

with our parents. 

I witnessed the emotions of my family as they said their

goodbyes to a loved one.   

I am not saying that I was desensitized to death, but

it was not some deep dark thing that was hidden either.

It was natural.

When those 2973 awoke on that September morning

they had no clue their lives were about to end.

The sheer numbers alone is enough to make us stop

in our tracks and think. 

As the 5 year anniversary of 9-11 comes around,

I would like to ask you to do something in memory

of those people who died that day.

Would you make absolutely certain the people in

your life who you love and care about –

KNOW just how much you do love and care

about them.

If you do this and consciously connect your

actions of love back to September 11, 2001
it will give important meaning to the otherwise

tragic loss of life.


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I would like to dedicate this post to anyone who

is healing from the loss of a loved one.

There are 3 very special ladies in my life who

I embrace with this dedication.....

Marine Mom Melanie - her son

Lance Corporal Lance Thompson KIA Iraq 11-15-2004

Air Force Mom Sandy – her husband

Don Trotter 9-9-2005

Marine Mom Carey – her son

Lance Corporal Daniel McVicker KIA Iraq 10-6-2005

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