I’m surprised at how emotional I was this morning. My older daughter was born 6 months and 8 days after September 11th. Today she and her younger sister are both in school. I think this is the first year I’ve been alone for the entire morning.

Walking my younger daughter to preschool this morning, we stopped as the firemen of Engine 5 pulled the truck out of the station a little and stood silently to commemorate Flight 11 at 8:45. I tried to explain to her why we were waiting for them — with them — but I had no voice. Those men and women dwarf me, every day they’re a reminder of what true heroism looks like. I feel lucky that my window looks out on their station.

There was a bagpiper at the station, as the firefighters stood in remembrance of the South Tower falling at 10:05 am, the bagpiper played Amazing Grace. At 10:28 am he started with Amazing Grace and switched into America The Beautiful.

Previous 9/11s: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. I don’t know why I didn’t post anything last year.