Choose. Live. Love.

Well here we are. September 11th, 2011. Otherwise known as “Trivial to Bitch About the Mets Making Four Errors, Blowing Another Save, and Pitching to the Cubs’ Best Hitter With First Base Open and Two Outs in the Ninth Up By a Run Day”.

From a pure “blogger of baseball” standpoint, it’s weird to write about the Mets on such a somber anniversary. Especially this one. Ten years is a big round number. And it’s as good a day as any to reflect on that day, and the past ten years. For me, I struggle with whether it’s useful for me to reflect publicly on a blog like this. For one, I really don’t have anything to say that would add anything important to the conversation. My story from that day really isn’t unlike the thousands of stories of people who were watching the coverage, horrified as to what was going on, wondering if this was the end of the world. People who bring up the end of the world every time there’s an earthquake, or there are a couple of hurricanes in a row, I find that to be a little bit silly. Partly because nothing made me really think about how close we were to the end than that day.

I struggle with whether this is an appropriate forum to discuss these kind of things. In one respect, I guess it’s my blog and I could talk about whatever the heck I want. But you can go to just about any place else to find discussion about terrorism, foreign policy, wars, etc. That’s not what I’m doing here, and that’s not why you come here. I talk about this stupid baseball team we root for. Then again, how could I ignore it as if it doesn’t exist? Unfortunately, what happened ten years ago has become a fabric in the distractions that we hold dear (and of course I mean unfortunate in the way that I wish it never happened, not because I disagree with any efforts to remember and commemorate.)

The one thing that has been bothering me lately about the lead-up to this day is how people on the internet like to proclaim, in big bold letters: NEVER FORGET! Or, ALWAYS REMEMBER! Nice sentiment, but it comes off as an order. My response is, HOW CAN WE? How can anyone who was living in the city back then, or now, or all their lives ever forget what happened? I know a bunch of people who wish they can forget what they’ve seen and lived through. And those are the people who I’m thinking of today, and praying for. The people who lost loved ones. The kids who are just now finding out that this is why they grew up without a parent. The people who were in that area and saw things that nobody should ever have to have burned in their memory forever. They don’t have a choice but to never forget. And that’s who I’m remembering. Because how could I forget, ever? I wonder if some people who encourage the hardest to never forget will be the first to forget.

I’m not sure there is an appropriate way to remember, or reflect. It’s an individual choice. And that’s what I hope for you. Remember at your own pace. Live at your own pace. Love at your own pace, because it truly makes the world go ’round. Choose for yourself … that’s what this country was built on, the freedom to choose. My choice of emotion? Well, I’m sad, still. That never goes away. But I’m thankful. I’m thankful I have my family, which is first and foremost for me. I’m thankful for my friends who I hold dear. I’m also thankful, as I’ve said in the past, that we have people fighting for us so that we can retain our rights to do fun things like write a blog. (In some countries you can be arrested for a blog post or a tweet.) I’m thankful to be able to do it, and I’m thankful for each and every one of you who take time out of your day, even if you’ve only done it once in the past six years, to read what I write about the Mets. You all mean a lot to me.

I’m also thankful for the distraction that the Mets have been in the days, weeks, months and ten years since that day. Look, I’m snarky. I crack wise. I complain a lot. It’s what I do. It makes me happy. But believe me when I tell you that it all comes out of love. I care about this team. It breaks my heart to see them go from where they were to what they are now. But I could never imagine my life without them. So I’m thankful for them too … good, bad, and everywhere in between. They’ve touched a lot of lives as they’ve touched mine. They have a power that I’m not sure they completely understand. And that’s something I hope they never forget. They didn’t forget in the weeks since 9/11, when Shea Stadium was used as a staging area for rescuers. They haven’t forgotten as evidenced by letting first responders in for free tonight. And even in their everyday existence when they’re just playing baseball, even when they decide to pitch to Aramis Ramirez with first base open, they touch people’s lives.

I’m thankful they do. And I’m thankful for them, just as I’m thankful that we can enjoy sports on this somber anniversary. If that’s the way you choose to mark the day, or if not, then it’s your choice. That’s the beauty of the country in which we live … the city in which we live … that there’s so many choices at our disposal, including sports. That doesn’t stop today, or ever. My only wish is that whatever you choose, do it safely. To those who keep us safe, I’m thankful. And to those who endure the struggle that will last until the end, my thoughts are with you today. And beyond.