I remember it.
The confusion. The fear. The footage of people trying to escape the collapsing buildings.
I wasn't even five yet. But I knew that something was terribly wrong, along with every person of the United States of America.
We lived in Massachusetts at the time, and Mom was six months pregnant with Olivia. Mom says she drove, weeping, to be with some of her friends. Their husbands all worked for big companies near Boston, and Boston was frighteningly near NY and DC.
Ten years. Can anyone believe it? Ten years since our country was attacked, since 2,973 American lives were lost. Men, women, children.
Rachel's drama teacher told her class of a good friend of his. They two met in drama in seventh grade, and went on continue drama together in high school and college. When school was over, they sought opportunities in Hollywood. After no success, they decided they were fit better for the actual stage and decided to try Broadway. They flew out to NY and tried out multiple times. He decided, after again having little success, to return home to teach drama. But she was set on being a Broadway actress. One day he received good news from her that she had gotten a job- a waitress near the top of the twin towers. Excited for her and also having not seen her for a while, he flew out to visit. But the day after he returned back home to teach, he received another call. At first he tried humorously to tell her a story of a misbehaving student, but she would not listen. Finally she managed to interrupt him and whispered, "Find somebody who loves you." An explosion. The phone went dead.
In so many cases it was just like that. They weren't supposed to be there, or had just happened received a job at the twin towers. And yet it is just those little moments of coincidence that cost lives.
I wonder what it was like. All those people- did it happen quickly, or did they find the time to flee or help others flee? Did the world become a haze, or were their hearts and minds overwhelmed by thoughts and memories of their families, of their Father in Heaven?
I am so grateful for the live I have. That my family can be together, safe and healthy and strong. I am so grateful for my country and for those who have fought for our freedom.
I am a citizen of the United States of America.
AND I WILL NEVER FORGET.
