9/11 Is A Birthday, Too

To everyone with a birthday today:




I wish you a birthday without judgment.

I wish you a birthday with no stares, no shaking of heads, no "I'm sorrys."

I wish you a birthday without strangers yelling at you for celebrating.

I wish for you to recapture the joy of the day of your birth, if only for a few moments.

I wish for parents of little ones with a birthday today to remember that on a day of such sorrow you have a reason to sing with such joy. Your children are a shining light on a day of darkness. Do not let anyone take that away from you. Do not let anyone take that away from your children.


People may not agree, but today is also a day for celebration. Let us celebrate the life we have. Let us celebrate the birthdays, the wedding anniversaries--whatever other holiday may fall on this day.

Just like the old story. May each of us hold a tiny mirror in our hands and in our hearts to reflect the light and joy in our lives. When enough of us stand together, shining the light of our celebrations out into the darkness, that is this day that darkness will be pushed back. We will reclaim this day for our families. For our friends. We can mourn our losses and celebrate our victories and no one will be made to feel badly for having joy on this day.