I haven't been watching the news today. Has anyone mentioned that today is the 38th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination? Certainly pre-911, it would have been a lead. Perhaps we finally have a day that eclipses November 22. If so, it's another beneficial side effect of a devastating event...

Good ! JFK was shot when I was 15-years old. For two decades after the death, November 22nd was non-stop TV coverage of the "Kennedy Legacy", ad nauseaum. Of course, we were treated to hour-long interviews with Ted and pals, plus we were treated to the same home movies from Cape Cod. We all could have written our own book on PT-109,and undue sympathy was heaped upon the reckless survivors. Teddy's free-whelling sexual escapades, and outright manslaughter/murder were basted with sympathy over previous "tragadies" that the "Kennedy family was somehow "unfairly" delt! Enough, thank goodness!

Every generation has a horrific moment in time that defines it, that begs the trite question, "Where were you when...?" For our grandfathers, it was the bombing of Pearl Harbor. For our fathers, it was Kennedy's assassination--not because he was a brilliant leader, but because the unthinkable happened in the era of realtime television. For my generation, it was that day in January 1986, when the Challenger exploded. Well, it was, until 9/11.

I think all generations will look at 9/11 as the most profound turning point in our collective history as a nation--certainly it was just that within any of our memories. It was the day that America grew up after an eight-year childhood.