I woke up September 11, 2007 and thanked God for such a beautiful day.
I couldn't wait to get outside,
it has been so hot and humid lately,
my garden was totally overgrown with weeds.
As I was eating breakfast,
I noticed the date on the front page of the newspaper.
September 11th..
oh my Goodness
How many years has it been?
I remember how I felt the year after the horrible tragedy...
someone scheduled a meeting on that day and I thought
how insensitive to choose that date.
It seemed somehow wrong
to just go about the day as if nothing had ever happened,
and I remember what I did the year after that,
but I have no idea what I did last year.
---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
On September 11, 2001 my children were all ready for school and waiting for the bus, when one of the neighbors from across the street ran into our kitchen and told us to turn on the TV
At that exact moment a friend called to tell me the same thing.
I remember the phone in my hand
while
I was trying to figure out what we were seeing.
It appeared to be some sort of plane accident, how horrible.
The first tower had just been hit and as my friend and I were trying to make sense of it all, the bus arrived.
The kids jumped on
at the exact moment
when the second tower was hit.
Thank God for them,
that they left not knowing it was a terrorist attack.
My friend and I talked and speculated for quite awhile until we both felt compelled to sit down
and pay closer attention
while we channel surfed to find the best coverage.
____________________________________________________________ ____________
****special note...girl with dark rimmed glasses...
nbc
Ashley_...Banfield or something like that..__
my constant companion
and source of info for days to come
whatever happened to her?
************************************************************ ***
The magnitude of the incident was hitting me hard as I mentally tried to figure out where all my loved ones were at that very moment.
Nicole was a freshman at St Mary's in South Bend, Indiana. We had only recently dropped her off for a whirlwind 3 or 4 days of orientation and 2 days before this .....she unexpectedly and without any warning joined the air force ROTC
(that's another story)
Sam, Kate and JR were at St John of the Cross grade school ...safe for the moment ...I was assured when I called the school
to see if I should pick them up.
My husband was on the golf course when I got a hold of him, and he ... in a matter of fact way.... replied, "If I quit playing golf, the terrorist will win!" Now we can't let that happened, can we?"
I did not know about him,
but
I
was scared to death.
I needed to talk to someone
who was just as afraid as I
but first I checked in with my parents
and brother who was expecting his
first baby in a few days
and a few other relatives.
He
was on his way to the airport heading to California on business. I begged him not to go.
By this time we had heard about the other planes although they had yet to close all the airports.
He kept telling me he had to go or wouldn't get paid.
While the drama was unfolding
the
call waiting was kicking in... big time,
I felt like I was running a switchboard,
"hold on, I have another call"
etc.
I had two on the land line
and two on my cell all morning long
as I stayed glued to the TV
every one of them was on in every room of the house.
One of the calls
was from a close friend
who just hung up
with her dad.
His instructions were to
get gas,
go to the bank
and stock up on groceries.
It was my just my dumb luck
that prevented me from getting a dime out of my account that day.
On Sept 10th,
for the first time in my entire life,
I opened an IRA account,
with all the nickels and dimes I managed to save
something I had wanted to do since college..
and wouldn't you know it
I couldn't touch a cent for god knows how long.
So much for money,
but I did get gas
and met my friend at the grocery store.
All the women walking down the aisles
pushing their carts
stocking up on whatever???
reminded me of
The Stepford Wives.
We were all calmly scanning items
trying to make the right choices for our families
trying not to act too emotional
trying to look cool and calm
and collected
all putting on a brave front
I just wanted to hide under the covers
The tv was blasting in the grocery store
and a crowd was gathering
at the customer service desk
everyone
looking a tad worried
but trying to stay positive
all having
some sort of a connection
to
someone in New York,
Washington
or
California
Our demeanor
did not express
what we all feared
which was some sort of additional disaster
that we were all sure was going to happen.
it was just a matter of time
no one knew where or when
Now I had just gone to the grocery store
a day or two before
so I really didn't need anything.
I was just randomly throwing things in my cart.
I was not thinking clearly when I picked up a giant turkey
and threw that baby right on top of the wheat thins
and
the cans of chicken noodle soup
and frozen yogurt
and the kids favorite ice cream
I figured I could make turkey sandwiches for everyone.
what was I thinking?
I never even wondered how
I would cook the thing or keep the ice cream frozen
dah?
People still kid me about my terrorist turkey.
that's another story
I called the school again
and was told they were keeping the kids away
from the tv coverage and that they
were going to hold
a prayer service
in the church.
Nicole and I spoke a few more times
her entire campus was afraid.
quite alot of drama in the dorms
more than in the grocery store
She had to go to a friends room
because I would not let her have a tv set
another story
A few of the girls on her floor
had parents who worked at the pentagon.
After the two hour prayer service
I went up my kids individually
and told them not to take the bus
I would be driving them home
and waiting for them at Sara's house
just down the block from school
She was the one who called me
that morning
to tell me to turn on the tv
she and her husband
had children the same age as mine
Samantha told me she couldn't ride home with me
because she had volleyball practice.
I told her I was certain it was canceled
and she looked at me with a puzzled look
and said,
"why, what happened?"
I was trying to play it down for the other kids
but I had to give her a swift reality check
I whispered,
"Sam,
they just bombed the world trade Center!
what do you think we were praying for in church for the last two hours?"
She was still sure there was practice that day.
I ran over to the Barrys and sat in the comfort of their cozy room
we watched the horrible tragedy unfold together.
It reminded me how it felt when I was in 7th grade and we were all gathered in front of my grandmothers tv after John F Kennedy was assassinated,
it was my aunts birthday
my brother was mad
that there was nothing else on television....
remember how the world was glued to the tv for days.
We all saw Ruby shoot Oswald
just like most of us saw the second tower go down on live TV.
It felt so good to be in the company of adults to discuss all the days frightening events.
I imagine it was quite similar to the way people felt
while gathered on each others porches
in the good old days
.
we don't do that anymore
that's another story
When the kids arrived at the Barrys... they ran in every direction, the boys started playing video games and the girls ran upstairs to play board games.
Since no one seemed very upset, we let them play and I stayed and watched tv with my friends.
My husband was having dinner with his customers
and did not seem too concerned with world crumbling around him.
He was taking a stand by sitting down to dinner
I told him I was going to stay there until he was ready to go home,
I did not want to be home alone
with the kids.
I needed info like a junkie needs his drugs
but I did not want the children to see and hear all the gory details.
I don't ever remember
ever
feeling more frightened
than I did that day.
I was sure,
as I looked at the sky,
it was just a matter of time
until they hit the Sears Tower.
I figured nothing would ever be the same again..
I thought it was the beginning of the end.
I owe a debt of graditude to the Barrys for that day.
and that's another story entirely
I was so thankful to be able to spend the afternoon and evening with them.
I felt safe in their mist.
We fed the kids a rather late supper,,,,,,,
almost forgot it altogether
When it was finally time to head home,
it took me forever to get the kids to bed.
My son,
the sensitive one
was so sad.
He was crying for all the people who lost their loved ones.
When I went into
Katie's room
she was terrified,
and was certain a terrorist was hiding in her closet.
By the time I made it to
Sam's room,
she was sitting in her bed,
whimpering.
Poor Sam,
I felt bad it took me so long to get to her.
Nicole
had called and wanted to come home...
I told her she should stay at school for now....
I really was not sure what to do about her at that moment
I just wanted her to stay put, not to be traveling anywhere
I knew the school would do everything to keep her safe
now, back to sam
Sammy looked at me with tears in her eyes
It had been a very long day
for everyone
"Oh Mom"
"Yes sweetie, I'm here"
I said,
in my best
there is never anything to worry about when you are with me
and I will always protect you"
voice!
"When am I ever going to be able to shave my legs?
Every single girl in my class shaves except for me!"
what can I say
that's a different story?
| Views: 301
