9/11

Its hard for me to believe that it has been ten years since the day that we Americans were changed…forever. Its also hard for me to believe that the heart of our economic landscape is no longer standing.

I remember that day like…well…it was yesterday.

I was a Sophomore in high school. Early morning workouts had just ended on that Tuesday morning. My first period of the day was World History. My teacher just happened to be my baseball coach. He had the news on, just like he did every morning. There were other students that were already in the classroom. Usually there would be talking and some goofing off…but this wasn’t a usual day. I sat down in my seat while the television was showing replays of the first plane hitting the North Tower. I was in shock. I couldn’t really comprehend what was going on.

I was scared…we all were. No one knew what was going to happen next. My mom worked near Baylor Hospital in Downtown Dallas. I got a hold of her and my family as quickly, and as discreetly (without letting my teachers see me using my phone) as I could. Even though I reached them, I was still nervous and scared for those that worked in that area. We were all on high alert.

There were no lessons in school that day. Just silently watching the televisions in every class. Lunch was somber. No one really said anything. I think we all felt a little helpless and confused. At the time, I really couldn’t understand the reasoning behind such an atrocious attack. But, I knew in my heart that I wanted revenge. That day, those images were forever burned into my brain. I will never escape the images of planes being launched into towers, the fires, people running, people jumping from the buildings. Three building collapsing, and the image of the sun setting with smoke and dust hovering above where the towers once stood.

Everything was cancelled that day. Practices, games, tv shows, movies, events, clubs, and even lives were cancelled that day.

On every September 11th from now on, we’ll pause, and remember those who lost their lives on that day…a day that tested our American resolve.

Maybe my next post will be about what I thought about 9/11 then, compared to now…

 

song of the day-’an end weight’ by harvard