I live close enough to Shanksville, PA (a little over an hour's drive)

[FakeNoose]

... however I have no plans to visit it tomorrow. Of course I've seen the 9/11 memorial several times, and I was there even before any memorial had been built yet.

My point is that Dubya going there tomorrow is reason enough for me NOT to go. I have no desire to hear him speak, or listen to the applause that's certain to follow.

My sisters and I may take a drive out there during the week, I'm not sure yet. Sept. 11th is forever etched in all of our minds, none of us will ever forget what happened. We don't want to be part of the patriotic parade tomorrow though.

[babylonsister]

2. I'm even avoiding the programs on every channel

about 9/11. I was stuck to the tv for weeks after it happened, have watched some of the memorials over the years, and I just can't. I know what happened; it's too sad and I've been sad enough lately.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. I also am not watching any of it.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. We have three ceremonies that I know of around here, and no doubt...

there are more. I won't go to any of them.

I had a lot of professional contacts in WTC so I knew people who died that day, but at a certain point you just have to move on or it just becomes maudlin.

[AngryOldDem]

8. I watched some of the MSNBC coverage.

That has to be it for me. My emotions are still visceral enough that I can’t. I’m fully aware of the importance of that day without having to relive it.

Wholly agree with TreasonousBastard — we are not ever going to heal unless we put this day into some perspective — but that doesn’t mean we forget about it. There is no good in ripping off the scab every year.

[pamela]

3. We were there about a month ago.

We were headed from Maryland to New Mexico and drove right by it, kind of by accident. Decided to check it out and so glad we did. Very moving.

[FakeNoose]

5. It's really off the beaten path - I'm glad you found it

Yes it's very moving, just to see the site where the plane went down.
The memorial is beautifully designed and thoughtfully presented.

[EYESORE 9001]

7. I have been there twice

Once while the visitor center was being built and once after it was complete. Like you, however, I have no interest in a visit during all that hullabaloo.

[Dorian Gray]

9. I live in NYC

and have lived here since 2000. So I was here when 9-11 happened. I spend every year avoiding coverage of it. It was a real trauma. I saw the second tower collapse live from the roof of the building i lived in. Don't need to spend every 9-11 re-watching that shit. I'm glad we commemorate the lost victims, but for me, the best way to handle 9-11 is to live my life, do fun things with my family, read, and move forward.

[FakeNoose]

10. Yes I agree

This is a sad day, for sure, but there's no reason to make it political or patriotic. At least that's how I feel about it. My son and daughter-in-law live in lower Manhattan and they were there on 9-11. My son was actually working at the Village Voice at the time, and he said they could feel the vibrations and hear the sounds when the buildings collapsed.

I believe that our memory of 9/11/01 is very similar to the way our parents and grandparents felt about the Pearl Harbor attack. Even though our country's response was quite different both times, I believe our feelings, the memories, and the sadness are similar.