September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001 was a much anticipated day for me, a 19-year-old college kid, living on my own for the first time.  Barely into my freshman year at Rockhurst University, leading the day's agenda was finding a ride to a record store to purchase Bob Dylan's newest album Love and Theft, scheduled to be release that Tuesday morning.

Probably for that reason I was already awake on my bunk when the phone rang that morning, around 8:15 a.m.  A phone ringing early in our dorm room was not terribly uncommon, seeing as my roommate, Tony, and I had girlfriends at the same high school in St. Louis, who would call us before class on occasion.

Having recently moved into a new room in Corcoran Hall, Tony and I were adjusting to each others' living habits.  Our pressing tasks included tracking down the right metal bars to bunk our beds, when I'd be able to get back home to pick up my Super Nintendo for our room's second TV, and where in the room we'd place the second TV.

Things were settling nicely for us though.  So when Tony motioned for me to turn on the TV I figured it was some quirky request by his girlfriend, Carrie.  Without a doubt, the TV was set to ESPN or some sports network, certainly not news.  By the time we got to a serious network, the world had already changed and two planes had hit the Towers.

For the most part, the remainder of the day is a blur.  I know Tony and I saw the first tower fall, and then the second, speechless.  I know I called my mom back home who seemed equally at loss for words.  I remember going to my political science course later that morning as news cameras filmed our class discussion.  Televisions were set up throughout the the campus' more crowded areas.  The environment was tense. Purchasing that CD just seemed silly.

I'd like to wrap this up cleaner and sum up some thoughts, but quite frankly, ten years hasn't been enough time to formulate any.  God be with thosewho lost their lives.  

It's a kid's world, now.

An older friend, Katie, has told me on multiple occasions that Joanna and I make parenting look fun.  Katie, who has no kids of her own, has at least begun to think about having children.  Her hesitation, which I imagine is shared by many, is that children could limit her.  She, like many, enjoys traveling the globe, staying out late and sleeping in on weekends. 

The other day I was remarking to some friends about how long it's been since I've left for work with Joanna still asleep.  The odd part, most mornings, when she wasn't working and before we had kids, Joanna would typically be asleep when I'd walk out the door.  Now, she and I are up anytime between 5:30 and 6:30 with one or both boys.  Needless to say, I have not needed to set an alarm in over three years.

There are other areas which have also changed.  We go to bed much earlier, drink a lot less alcohol and watch a lot more Yo Gabba Gabba (which isn't all that bad).  But, these changes don't seem taxing to us in the least.  They are what they are: part of life.  While life today might be different from our previous ones, it is not without its charm.

The early wake-ups aren't always welcomed, but the little smiling faces typically are.  Buying a mini-van for a growing brood is expensive, however, packing my most prized possessions at the end of a trip in one is always priceless.  And, while I haven't seen the ninth inning at a Saturday night ballgame this year, running the bases with Peter and Thomas on Sunday afternoons is a victory for me.

Parenting is not always fun.  I'd be lying if I said otherwise.  But there are few things in life that remain in a constant state of "fun."  And, there may be people who have much more fun than me and Joanna, but I doubt they're more satisfied.