I got to work early to interpret a parent/teacher conference. My upcoming nuptiuals on my mind, I walked down the red carpeted hallway. A student came up to me and said, "the World Trade Center has been hit by an airplane". I just looked at him in disbelief, surely he is misunderstood. I went into the classroom of one of my friends and she told me what was happening. An airplane had flown into one of the World Trade Center buildings. There must have been a mistake on the pilot's part, there must be a reasonable explanation for this. Terrorism never crossed my mind. Not until the second plane hit the second tower did I realize how many lives were changed forever.
Staggering through the day, hearing more between classes, trying to protect these young elementary school children from what is going on, it felt like I was floating in a terrible nightmare.
I drove home and couldn't wait to be with my love. I went to give blood, knowing that it would be needed, only to be told that they didn't have any room for anyone else.
Jeremy and I held each other that night, watched the news, I couldn't turn it off, I couldn't stop watching and praying for those families.
Eight years later, I know more about grief than I did then. I know more about what it is like to have something so terrible happen in your life, something that stays with you and despite everyone else going back to their lives yours is never the same. My heart aches for the orphaned children, widowed spouses, parents who lost their children...and I want them to know this.
Know that September 11 is not just another day for me. I remember. I cry for you. My heart aches for you. I will never forget and will be sure to teach my children about those who you love. I will not forget, I promise.
8 comments:
Thank you, for the reminder. It was a horrible day. I remember it clearly. What I did. What I wore. Who I talked to. How I felt. It affected me profoundly. I won't ever forget either...
I just want to hold you for this post. I completely feel the same, how this day isn't just 'another day', it'll never be. I can't look at a clock that reads 9:11 and not remember.
I remember that day so well. The thing that struck me the most was seeing hearing the air force planes fly over my house, since we are in the air space between Washington DC and Camp David. It was a sobering day. I was very grateful when my hunnie came home from work in DC that day!
empathy is such a powerful thing. this was another beautiful reminder from you about how life is so fragile.
I don't think that many of us will forget that day. Forget where we were when we heard, or how we felt. Thank you for commemorating it so beautifully.
Well said, lady. Such a lovely post. Thank you.
I was in school too when I heard about what happened. Our professor didn't have even a wink of sleep that night. He was the one who made us realize what this event meant for everyone, not just Americans.
9/11 is not just another day, definitely.
It is amazing how even 12 years later, the moment is burned into my brain. And I'll never get over my then-husband's response. Read my story here: http://mydevotionalthoughts.net/2011/09/this-day-in-history-september-11-2001-2.html
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