10 Years.
A decade.
Where were you?
I was walking into my parent's home, my belly taut with 9 months of pregnancy, my mind eager for some shopping/girl time with my mom. She immediately asked me if I knew what had happened, then she showed me the towers billowing with smoke on her little kitchen TV screen.
(via Google Image)
Shock.
Disbelief.
Really, truly, disbelief. I mean, WHY?
How?
What kind of person does this?
I called my husband, needing to connect to with him, not talking much, each of us glued to our form of media, but just needing him. We were still on the phone when reports of the Pentagon crash came over the radio in his truck. Still, 10 years later, I can hear the sound of that news report through the muffled connection on our phones.
My mom and I sat, watching in stunned, horrified awe as the towers fell.
I remember the weather so clearly...gorgeous. Absolutely the perfect fall day. Coolish, a slight breeze, incredible sunshine, and blue skies as far as the eye could see.
Blue skies that were eerily devoid of any activity.
Just when my mind was going to all sorts of dark places (what does this mean? what will happen now? will there be a war on American soil? how will this impact our growing family?), the new life, the wonderful, amazing FUTURE in my womb nudged me.
Reminded me that there IS a future. There is hope.
That sweet new life is this girl:
And I like to think God knitted her just for our hurting, our fragile hearts. She is such joy. Such sunshine. Such sweetness.
In those days following the attacks on our country, it was so promising and uplifting to see our nation coming together. No bipartisan bickering...just you and me, sharing the same pain, supporting one another...a real sense of community.
Let's not forget. Let's not let those memories get diluted with time.
God Bless America!!!
I live the other side of the world and my reaction was much like yours - shock, horror and fear of what this meant not only for America, but for the entire world.
ReplyDeleteAustralia lost many good people who were in the World Trade Centre and then again one year, one month and one day later (it was almost a sick pattern) with the terrorist bombings in Bali where Australians lost another 88 people.
All of us were united in our grief no matter which country we were from. Tragic world events that ripped apart our lives and our trust.
I was at an elementary school near Dulles airport teaching school. The library aide came and got me out of the computer lab and had me watch the events unfolding on T.V.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be nice if we could all live a little bit more like we did on Sept. 12?
ReplyDeleteI was hanging out with my foster son and 9 month old baby girl when my husband called and asked where the children were. I immediately knew something was wrong, as he NEVER asked that on the phone! When I asked him why he just said he wanted to know we were all safe. "Turn on the TV," he said. "This has got to be a joke, what I just heard on the radio." As we all know, it was not a joke, but since he was listening to Howard Stern he had a hard time taking the news seriously. I held my baby in my arms as I watched the news. Like everyone else that day I was in complete shock.
ReplyDelete@MarieElizabeth: I SO agree with you!
still remembering and thinking of those affected
ReplyDeleteJen in New Zealand
Thank you for sharing your story!
ReplyDeleteWM