5 years ago, I was pulling into the parking lot at work listening to NPR when they announced a single plane had hit the WTC.

Reports were unclear at first. It sounded as if it were a small plane, and though serious, there were no speculations of terrorism at the time.

I turned off my engine, strolled inside, fixed my cuppa, turned on my computer, and discovered there had been a 2nd crash.

I don’t remember much else from that day, other than my heart hammered in my throat as I stayed glued to the internet and to the radio.

At home, I couldn’t stop watching the Television. I cried a lot.

Somehow, I’d imagined that the horrific events of 9/11/01 would’ve brought our country closer together. I thought that the tragedy would’ve inspired unity. Instead, it created a chasm that we may not recover from.

It saddens me.

But for the survivors of 9/11, life goes on. So, hug your loved ones today. Make those phone calls. Don’t wait for a tragedy to remember that life is short.