Seven Years Ago Today

On September 11, 2001 I woke up early for work. I put on a blue dress and black small heel shoes. It was going to be a day I was never going to forget, I knew that for sure as soon as I opened my eyes that morning. 

Chris and I drove to work together. It was a beautiful day. The sky was so blue. I remember I loved that it was such a beautiful day.  It was going to be such a special day. I had barely slept the night before. I cannot tell you how excited I was. I wore my favorite dress, my favorite shoes, I made sure to remember everything about the weather and the perfect color of the sky. I wanted to make certain that I never forgot what I was wearing, what the air felt like – I wanted to make sure I remembered everything, every minute of that morning.

At 9:30 am, 9/11/01 I was going to see my first child via sonogram.  I remember everything about that day, not for any reason I could have possibly imagined when I woke up in the morning. The world was changing, but there on the screen in black and white I saw a heartbeat and little fingers – little feet attached to little legs. 

“The baby is sleeping” the doctor said.  

It’s been seven years since I saw Will for the first time on a black and white screen.  Each September 11th I stare at him in the morning before I wake him up.  Each year I watch him sleeping and I remember the first time I saw him, sleeping that Tuesday morning.  A miracle in the middle of chaos. 

It was love at first sight.