As for stuff in the news, these past almost four years have been about the worst current events in the US, in my view. The tragically bad pandemic response and right wing extreme propaganda and atrocities have been particularly bad. Yes, 9-11 was frightening and horrible, but fewer than 3,000 people died that day. Over 180,000 have died in the US from covid19. Though some would have been expected even with a proper response, likely a much much smaller number. And yet some who gasped on 9-11 are overly casual about the pandemic. It wasn't 9-11 that made my husband and I need/want to move abroad. It was the last almost four years.

I live within one hour of NYC. My husband and I stood at the top of the World Trade Center only 2 months before 9-11. My town was directly affected by the anthrax scare very soon after. Yes, it was horrible! Yes my bipolar disorder was heading towards its worst. Yes, my beloved mother unexpectedly died one year later, but these current years were worse for the nation. 9-11 didn't cause my worst bipolar years, though that and my mother's death didn't help. But we're talking about current events, not other factors. These past few years and the pandemic will surely overshadow 9-11 in future history books, I think. Sure, 9-11 makes for better action movie material, but again, it was not the most lethal.