Sunday, September 11, 2011

Where were you?

I hope I will never forget where I was September 11th, 2001.  I was 16 years old and a Junior in High School.  It was our Seminar class so I was out and about on a pass.  I remember stopping by Ms. Gough's room where she had the TV on.  The first plane had hit the first tower just moments before.  Ms. Gough is a science teacher and I felt I needed to spread the word so I left.  I went to a teacher who I never had as a teacher but who I loved and respected so much.  Ms. Taylor had not yet heard the news.  I asked her to turn on the tv and she, I and her class watched.  We watched as the second plane hit the second tower.  It was that moment, that look that I will never forget.  I watched this strong, fearless woman turn into a human.  Her face went pale, she immediately picked up the classroom phone and called her mom.  You see, her mom worked in downtown Kansas City at the Federal Reserve.  The Federal reserve is one of the top 10 targets outside of military bases in the United States.  Cut off our money, cut off our power.  Her mom answered "I know, we're being evacuated, I'm okay, I'll call you later."  I left her room to return to my seminar room.  Ms. Murphy and our class watched until the period was over.  The moments that follow this I don't really remember clearly.  The next vivid memory I have of this day was during the next class.  I was back in Ms. Gough's room, my Anatomy and Physiology teacher.  We had a big test coming up and she insisted that we continued with our notes while the tv was on in silent.  I remember the entire class let out a collective gasp as the first tower fell.  Ms. Gough allowed us to stop taking notes at that point.  We watched it the rest of the day.  I think the principals  came on to say continue as usual, keep tv's off.  None of my teachers followed that directive.  I remember nothing else of the day.  Only that I knew the world would never be the same.
10 years later so much has changed personally, nationally, internationally.  Osama Bin Laden has been caught and killed but the war on terror continues.  I went to church this morning passing up free tickets to the Chief's.  I had to go.  I had been feeling so anxious about this day and I found out my mom had been feeling the same.  I'm glad I went to church it was where I needed to be.  I got to go to lunch with my awesome mom and chat about our upcoming fundraiser, school, work, missing days, and possibly getting a new roommate.  All crazy and exciting upcoming events.  I was happy to talk them out with my momma. 
I've got some more homework and a million things to grade today.  Hopefully I will finish my hw and make good headway on my grading.  I hope everyone enjoys this day of remembrance and football! 

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