9/11

Deb died on Sept. 11, knowing, I'm sure, that it was the best way to make sure I wouldn't forget the date.

She phoned me on Sept. 11, 2001, to tell me the first tower had been hit. Shortly after I turned the TV on, I saw the second tower get hit. So even from the start, the worst day in our lifetimes was a part of our story.

And I know the same woman who loved to tell people that Ronald Reagan nearly ruined our wedding would get a big kick out of my telling people she died on 9/11. "Just don't tell them the year," she'd tell me before giggling.

So even though you'll never see it on a memorial at Ground Zero or hear it as they call out the names of the victims, you can say you heard about the one 9/11 casualty who died in Tampa.

Just don't tell them the year.