Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Day I'll Never Forget

10 years ago, I remember turning on the tv...the exact moment the 2nd plane hit...I was stunned...I'd grown up in NY, been to the city many times, always amazed by the Twin Towers.  My neighbor called sobbing...she too had grown up in NY, lived in the city.  We couldn't even begin to comprehend what had taken place and what was yet to come.

I remember I had a dentist appointment...so I left the house, only to have my husband call and say they were closing his office.  "Why?"  Well, the company that runs the Southeastern Rail System is in our building and they want us out.  And, the Marta (Public Transit) trains ran next to his building as well.   I didn't understand...I don't think anyone really did at that time.

The girls were supposed to go to the dentist that afternoon...we kept our plans to pick them up early as to not worry them, as you see, by now we ALL knew what had happened and what could still happen.  The schools did an amazing job keeping things "normal" that day.  Although, after we picked the girls up and explained we would not be going to the dentist...they said, "we knew something was wrong, just not what"...you see the teachers had been on their email systems all day conversing back and forth with the staff...determining what to do, what to say, what not to say. And, more kids than usual were being checked out.  You see, my daughters school at the time was attended by 17 or more different nationalities, some Muslim. Everyone was on edge and scared.

Most of all, I remember the quiet.  We live in an area where we hear planes throughout the day.  I remember my sil saying how quiet it was where she was, eerily so...you see, they lived near a military base...my brother a Marine, she'd been at the commissary when it happened!

The quiet, followed by the frenzy.

Today, I will say a pray for those lost, those that served and continue to do so, but most of all I pray for our Nation...I pray we won't soon forget, I pray we will come together today and everyday as we did 10 years ago, not just in times of tragedy, but EVERYDAY.  Live life with a purpose, be kind to those around you, be thankful and remember.

2 comments:

L.A. in the bay said...

love this Lauren.
Thanks for sharing.
<3

Tara {The Silver Lining} said...

Lauren, this was so beautifully said. As my husband and I watched the History channel yesterday, I again just burst into tears. The events are so tragic and it's absolutely heartbreaking to watch again what was endured by those affected. I still cannot believe it's already been ten years since this occurred (I was a sophomore in college). We do need to remember every day to pray and to be thankful for the many blessings we do have in this country.