Capitol Building by Dave Newman (newmanchu), on Flickr
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 I got up with the sun and went walking across my beloved Capitol Hill with two of my dear friends as we did most mornings. We would solve the problems of the world during our walks — or at least the problems of the week. My friends are hearty walkers from out West — rain and snow would not deter them from walking — and neither did the events that occurred later that morning.
On September 12, a bright blue beautiful sky welcomed us and we walked and we talked. Of course we were upset, but we were together and we would continue with our ‘normal’ routine as much as we could. And so we walked the next day and the next.
In a few months I had plans to get married at my church, which is located one block from the U.S. Capitol. People asked if I would push back the wedding or change the location — no one knew when or even if planes would be allowed to fly again to D.C. and most of our family and friends had planned to fly out for the event.
I love Washington, D.C. and a bunch of yahoo terrorists weren’t going to take it from me. This is my town and I would not cower, not move to a “safer” place and not change my life. A few guests were nervous about coming and crossed out their earlier affirmative RSVP cards from “I can’t wait,” and instead checked, “I’ll be with you in spirit.” I understood.
We got married as planned — and 10 great years and two fabulous sons later, I do not regret my decision to wed — or to go walking and talking with dear friends in the best city I know on one of the saddest days of my life.
This is my town.
