Community Chat

[Zoologist_1]

TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, etc. all are focusing on the anniversary of a tragedy.

Lots of stuff on TV about "Where are they now?", "How are they doing?", etc. regarding the survivors, the kids who were with the President when he was informed of it, even babies whose births coincided with thousands of deaths on that fateful day.

Ten years later, people are still reaching out, still trying to honor those who died, still trying to in some way be of comfort and help to those involved in that event.

Thousands of people received millions of dollars to try to help them somehow deal with the loss of loved ones, their own injuries, etc.

I applaude all of these efforts, then and now, and understand the yearly focus, rehashing, replaying, etc. of that day.

What I would like to encourage people to remember, tho, is that every single, solitary day, someone, somewhere endures a loss of no less magnitude to them than the loss was to the survivors ten years ago. Not on as grand a scale, no president coming to comfort them, no multi-million dollar trust fund established to help them continue on with their lives, but their pain is just as devastating. Their loss is just as real. Their grief is just as deep.

I would like to encourage everyone to realize that the average Joe/Jane on the street who loses a loved one - regardless of the circumstances - could sure use the same concern, sympathy, and kindness as was so greatly shown to those others who suffered loss back on that day. It doesn't have to be a huge deal, maybe just a "thinking of you" card a month after the funeral. Perhaps a sincere offer of help or to just sit with them, not just "Call me if you need something" comment that most likely will not prompt a call.

So, as the 10th anniversary dawns within a few hours (maybe already has where you live), please, remember to not forget those whose lives are much closer to your own. Those in your own town, neighborhood, church. And just because the person is 70 or 80 or even 90 years old, their death still represents a family circle being broken. Nobody ever feels they've had "enough time" with a loved one, even if the amount of time is 100 years.