9/11/01 - The Tuesday after my birthday, right before my mother's birthday. We won't forget that day. Where we were, what we were doing. Who we thought of and prayed for.
That whole day was surreal. I woke up and heard President Bush on the radio telling everyone what had just happened moments ago. I thought I was dreaming, but I wasn't. I tried to get a hold of my uncle, since I knew that sometimes he was in the Pentagon for work. No one at home answered. Finally after speaking with my parents, they had talked to him. He was fine. He also said that my aunt and cousin were still at their school. A friend of Josh and I from ACU, was in downtown New York working. His building was close to the towers. We finally got word from another friend of ours that he was okay, after having walked about 3 miles to get home (the subway had shut down). I was so thankful.
I also remember going to my morning photography class at ACU, walking into the classroom in a daze. My professor, Cade White, had the news feed projected on the front screen. We sat and watched in horror as the events unfolded. To this day I will never forget the desperation I saw on the faces of people. Those trying to find others, the fear and panic in their eyes. The ones who were trying to flee the imminent danger crumbling above them. I cried and prayed for those poor men and women who felt that jumping was the only way. That is probably the most horrible image that sticks in my mind. There were many other images that day that scar the memory, and they scar mine still.
Out of all the destruction on that day I was proud (despite the anger and hatred people spewed). I saw a populous of a stereotypically unhappy people come together to unite and help one another out. Strangers hugging strangers, just happy to be alive. People applauding firemen and police, showing their gratitude and support. I saw God in those actions.
The next day it was still difficult to believe what had happened. I remember how hard it was for me to call and wish my mother a "happy birthday". I told both my parents I loved them, and that was really all I needed to say. At times I have trouble putting my feelings into words. Words can not fully express the feelings and emotions I have. Many times our actions and pictures speak louder. They say what we can not.
"If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate."
- Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl.
We shall never forget
We shall keep this day,
We shall keep the events and the tears
In our minds, our memory and our hearts
and take them with us as we carry on.
- Unknown
"We've come back to remember the valor of those we've lost, those who innocently went to work that day and the brave souls who went in after them." - former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (9/11/06)
We will never forget. None of us will.
- Hol
1 thoughtful comments:
Great post Holly. Oh, and not to make light of anything, Happy Birthday! I will never forget that day either - I didn't find out until 4:30pm that day because I was at school with the boy I worked with, Brian. It was crazy because I was dealing with the shock while everyone else had been dealing with it for hours at that point. But it is so true that God was still victorious even in that horrific day - people came together, prayed together and moved on together.
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