In Memory

An image: "1457.jpg".

That's the file I downloaded from the site of "The 2,996 Project", which has assigned weblogs to honor each of the victims from the 9/11 tragedy. Mazurland was the 2,595th weblog to sign on.

A name: Linda Jones, aged 50. Employed by AON Corp. Confirmed dead.

I decided to rename the image "Linda".

But you know there's more. There has to be.

A comment. Left on the Project's site, from someone who knew Linda:

"Whenever I do remember Mrs. Jones, tears come to my eyes. She was such a nice person and she was very quiet- she would never hurt a hair on anyone. It's just so sad that she had to die. I hope her family will be able to go on, my prayers go out to the entire family. And Jen. I know it's hard to go on without your mom but everything will be OK. I notice that you try not to show your pain because that's just who you are, but everything will be alright. I know all that I'm saying will never change the past but I do hope the best for you and the rest of your family."

No weblog post can do justice to fifty years of a life. Searching provided little information. Linda was soft spoken. She was always lending a helping hand. Linda had a daughter, Jennifer. A co-worker, Janet, gave Linda a handmade Afghan when she was pregnant with Jennifer. A frustrating paucity of online details. But this isn't about the internet. It's about people. About the human tragedy that occurred on 9/11. It's about the love that Linda gave and received. It's about the friends and family whose hearts were torn out by the news. It's about a life whose fullness we can only imagine, which was so cruelly ended on that clear September day.

The most we, The Brothers Mazur, can ask today is that we think about Linda. Think about what we don't know about her. The people who loved her, and still grieve their loss. The intimate joys and sorrows, that are now a memory. The further human potential that was cut short. Then, multiply that by a few thousand. And then, only then, can we begin to appreciate the horror of what happened five years ago today.

Linda, you and your loved ones are in our prayers. We will never forget.