Remembering 9/11
Where were you eight years ago today?
Eight years ago today, our country–and the world–was changed forever.
I was a junior in high school when it happened. I remember first hearing about it from my English teacher, who came in all frazzled and worried. A few of the students laughed when she mentioned it, but I just cried. I remember thinking how callous some of the students were, but in hindsight, they probably didn’t realize how serious it was at the time. Once I started crying, I remember the laughter going quiet. Especially as I saw other teachers in the hallway talking and looking worried.
That day was a half day (already planned; it was supposed to be parent/teacher conferences later, but obviously that was cancelled). I remember going through the halls as quickly as possible to get to the parking lot where my Mom was waiting. I remember getting into the car and just crying before any words were spoken. Mom had the radio on and we listened to the accounts of what happened on the way home.
I hadn’t seen any footage of what happened yet so I was having a hard time picturing it. When we got home, Mom turned on the TV and they replayed footage of when the second plane hit. It was more horrific than I could’ve imagined; I collapsed to the floor and started crying. I couldn’t really fathom that all of this was really happening. It just seemed like a really bad dream.
The rest of the day was a blur for me really; we picked up my sister later from school and she’d said they showed some of it in class. We went over to my grandparents’ house that evening just for comfort of being around family.
The days after that were different–no planes in the sky, the solemn mood in school (and some of the kids in my English class apologizing to me for laughing). There was a sense of community for a short time.
I find it amazing how tragedy brings everyone together. If only that could be the case all the time…
I’m remembering all those who were lost that day. Let them never be forgotten.
Never forget...
