Que Pasa NYC

Yes, I meant 1946. That's the date that my dad was born.

In 2001, 9-11 transformed our nation, our world. We all remember where we were when we learned the terrible news. I remember where I was, how the day played out, and how we all had our own struggles to move beyond the fear, the sadness, and the anger. But despite the tremendous impact of that day, when I think of September 11th, my thoughts are with my daddy, with whom I celebrated one last birthday on September 11, 2009.

My dad was coming to the end of his battle with cancer and I was his home hospice caregiver. By that September, there wasn't much that I could do to make him comfortable, but on his birthday we both did our best to muster up some joy. He requested Cuban food from a neighborhood restaurant- a little Ropa Vieja for the soul. The food came and he asked me if I thought he could have a glass of wine. "Papi, you can have whatever you want on your birthday." It was one of the last, if the not the final, celebration we had together before he passed on the last day of that very same month.

Days that change our lives become a sort of tattoo on our memory. We see them on a calendar and the emotions come rushing back. I am moved every time I remember the tragedy of 2001, but I am overwhelmed by thoughts of my dad. So today, I remember 9/11/2001, I remember my dad, and I wish everyone affected by loss a sense of peace.