Today is a day or remembrance. A day to remember the people who lost their lives to senseless violence. Where were you when the towers were hit, the pentagon, the crash in the field in Shanksville, PA? I was at home, waiting for my husband to get home so we could take our huge 100 lb Labrador to the vet. When he rushed through the door and said, “turn on the TV”, I could not believe what I saw. I called to my father, “Dad, we are under attack!” What? It sounded like some horror movie, it didn’t even look real.
We were at the vet’s by the time the Pentagon was hit and we watched from their tiny TV in the waiting room as we saw the towers collapse.
Then there was Shanksville.
I had a hard time moving passed that day. For two years I could not get on a plane. Just seeing one overhead made me duck, as if that would do any good. I am not ashamed that I had to get some help. The terrorists had done what they set out to do – to terrify. The innocent killings were shameful. It makes me angry that they could cause such turmoil in my personal life. I did not even know anyone that was killed. But my rose-colored glasses came off that day. Never again will I feel that we are invulnerable. I had never known fear a single day in my life until September 11, 2001. Now I live with it every day.
I know a lot of my readers are from other countries. I would like to know what it was like for you? Was it big news? Did it rattle you? I don’t believe in being political on my site so I will not share my feelings about what is going on in the middle east today (every day – every month – every year). I only know the innocent killing is not what God would want, no matter what name you call Him (or Her) or what divine power you believe in.
I love my country so much. It is not perfect. It is made up of people – and people will never be perfect. But on this day, I am going to give thanks for my country, my military, my first responders, my every-day workers that keep our country moving. And I will remember – the fallen, the injured, the forgotten.
I think today must be the same feeling my parents got on Pearl Harbor Day. I heard it, but I never understood it – until September 11th.
Share you story. Where you were, What were your thoughts? Have they changed in twelve years?
9-11 NEVER FORGET
Writing Under Fire 
It was a beautiful day in Colorado, as always.. Summer break was over and the new fall semester was beginning that day. I was on my way to work, listening to NPR, I remember thinking, everythingwill be pretty much the same this year as last year. Then the announcer said, sounding confused, “A small plane has crashed into the World Trade Center.” I called my husband and said those frightening words, “Turn on the television.”
By the time I got to school, all hell had broken loose in NY. The class and the staff rolled in a big TV and we looked on in silence as the second plane hit the towers. My boss and I held hands as we watched 3000 people die.
A few months later, I flew back to NC to visit my family. Security was tight, and people were distressed and nervous. DIA had hung an enormous American flag over the escalators passageners take to the concourse train. As my escalator carried me down I looked up. My husband stood with his hands on the rail, just above the flag. We looked at each other and the look in his eyes echoed everyone’s feelings. I love you. Don’t let evil stop you from living life. God Bless America.
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Thank you for sharing.
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