Sept. 12
Oh, God, please tell me this is a nightmare! Unfortunately, it is reality.

I couldn't believe it, watching the events unfold at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Tuesday. Shock hit our nation, and in the aftermath of this tragedy, it makes one wonder how significant it is to get excited about Barry Bonds chasing Mark McGwire's home-run record. How important is it that Michael Jordan may be coming back to play professional basketball?

How important is it that Michael Jordan may be coming back to play professional basketball?

What does it really mean to worry about Florida against Tennessee in college football, if the game is even played?

Should people really get bent out of shape thinking about how their favorite pro teams do in their next game?

Really, you feel such pain and hurt for all of the innocent people who lost their lives -- think about those courageous firemen, policemen, volunteers, all battling gallantly to try to save lives at the World Trade Center. They gave their lives heroically trying to save those who were trapped.

For me, it all started in Sarasota, Fla. I was watching President Bush on television, as he was at Booker Elementary School, spending time with young children involved in a reading program. He was having a good time. Then, suddenly, he received a message from the Chief of Staff, informing him that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. The pain on his face told the whole story.

Then President Bush let the nation know about the tragedy we all faced.

I can't imagine what those who had loved ones at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon went through. Everyone was glued to the TV set, hearing story after story about various situations.

America is such a strong, resilient nation. We will continue, as President Bush said, and come back stronger than ever. We all have to go on and not allow the actions of those who act in terrorist fashion and an insane manner to paralyze our nation. We must go on with our daily lives as normally as possible.

Certainly, we need to take a moment in prayer for those who were injured, killed or lost loved ones.