While I can sit here and not remember what I was doing last week at this time, I can certainly tell you what I was doing ten years ago when the world as I knew it changed. My baby girl was in kindergarten and it was the day of her very first field trip. We were going to an apple orchard for lots of fun, and our morning was so filled with anticipation that I hadn’t bothered to turn on the television.
It was on the way to school that I heard about the first plane hitting, and remember thinking what a fluke accident. It never crossed my mind that it was anything but an accident.
We arrived at school and loaded up on a bus, only to hear a few of the other moms and the teacher whispering that the second plane had hit, and terrorism was suspected. We were advised to shut off our phones and not discuss anything in front of the children. We were completely cut off from the activity for over 2 hours, pasting smiles on our faces as we watched our kids laugh and play, wondering what else was happening.
Once we returned to school and were dismissed I found out the terrible news. It was bad, and the fear of what was to come was almost overpowering.
My husband had been trying to reach me but my phone had been turned off. He was near frantic when I called him back. Brooke and I rushed over to my mother in law to get Zach and we were glued to the TV until we couldn’t stand it any longer. We took the kids outside and let them play. All the time wondering if we were safe. What next?
Ten years has passed for us, but we still remember. Brooke and I were just talking about it yesterday. Zach was only three so he has no memory of it at all. I’m thankful for that.
My prayers go out to everyone that lost someone on that day, and everyone who was affected by the tragedy in some way. May they find peace that only God can provide.
We will always remember 9/11/01