To absent friends: An economy airline has announced free flights for the day, TV networks are planning 24-hour marathon coverage (the most dramatic and meaningful since Peter Jennings stayed awake to usher in New Year's 2000 in every time zone around the world, except this time maybe commercial-free), and today's N.Y. Times has a thoughtful article on metro residents' mixed feelings as the hype builds as the anniversary of September 11 nears ... it'll be a maudlin talking-head-fest, with almost unwatchable speechifying by the First Vacationer (8/4/02: "I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now watch this drive."), but the pain and horror are fresh enough to sear through.
But will we wallow in it again on the second anniversary? Then the third? Then the fourth? Will anyone ever again be able to enjoy a birthday or a wedding anniversary on 9/11, or will we treat the observances with the same neglect as the American flags that sprouted on our cars — and are now wind-frayed to tatters, or faded to pale stars and no stripes like the bumper sticker I saw the other day? Let's face it, Memorial Day is just a day off from work each year when most of us give at most a passing thought to our veterans and those who gave their lives in wars.
Maybe, years from now, September 11 will be a day when it's OK to have weddings or birthday parties again, but also a day we remember all our lost loved ones, all those taken from us too soon. The U.S. will never have anything as formal or semi-religious as Mexico's Day of the Dead, but we could have something less commercial or corny than Halloween. There could be worse tributes than a day when people take the time to visit and spruce up cemetaries and tell the kids a story or two about Grandma Kate or Uncle Bob.
7:56:56 AM 
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