Where Were You?

With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 coming up, most people are remembering that day and where they were when they heard the news. I love hearing other people's stories and memories from that day, so I thought I'd share mine.

I was a sophomore in high school at the time. I always woke up with barely enough time to get ready and run out the door to make it just on time before school started (hmm...not much has changed in 10 years). For some reason I didn't understand at the time, I woke up early that morning and went to the living room to watch The Today Show, which my mom always had playing while we got ready in the morning. I sat in the recliner and watched coverage of the tragedy, though I really didn't understand a lot of what they were saying.

I honestly had no idea what the "Twin Towers" were. I had heard the term before but wasn't even aware that they were located in New York. I got ready for school and took one last look at the TV before heading to my 1st period class. I think I saw the 2nd plane hit the tower at that moment...but I'm not 100% sure.

I went to weights, which was my first class that morning. We worked out as usual and I don't remember talking about the tragedy very much because I didn't know at the time what a big deal it was. "Terrorists" was not really a term I was familiar with and I didn't really have a clue how many people had died yet.

I remember getting to my 2nd period English class and by this point, it was all anyone could talk about. We turned the TV on (which NEVER happened) and watched the news coverage while our teacher talked to us about what had happened. I remember being scared. I remember everyone being scared. It was the first time in my life I felt like maybe the world was ending? Like maybe I was going to die? I prayed a lot that day. I don't think we really did much in school that day, or if we did, I didn't pay attention because I was so focused on feeling scared that we were going to be bombed or attacked in some way. Several of my teachers had us review our crisis drills (if someone brought in a gun or we got a bomb threat, etc.), which only added to my growing fear.

That afternoon we went to soccer practice, which was my 7th period class. I remember distinctly that it was cloudy and overcast and dark outside. It was eerie. It felt like the weather was expressing what we were all feeling. I wasn't able to drive yet, but an upperclassmen gave a couple of us rides out to the soccer field each day. I remember as we drove through town that every single gas station had a huge line. People were filling up with gas because it was rumored that either the prices would sky-rocket or that it would be rationed and unavailable starting the next day.

We got to soccer practice and much to my dismay, our coach insisted we have practice as usual. I remember feeling like I was on the verge of tears the whole time, even though I couldn't really put into words why I felt that way. During practice, a small crop-duster plane flew over the field and because we were all so nervous and on edge from the day's events, I remember everyone panicking. When we saw and heard a plane overhead, several of the girls hit the ground and I remember a couple girls screaming. I stayed on my feet but I remember feeling like I was frozen with fear.

When it passed by, we all burst into fits of laughter at how ridiculous we had all just been. With the tension finally broken, I think we all finally felt better. I can't remember if it was that night or the next night, but I remember going to church with my mom for a prayer service. Most of the service was centered around our country going to war. I remember a discussion my mom and I had that evening about the fact that I'd lived my whole life not really knowing what it was like to be at war...at least a major war.

Now, it's hard to believe that we've been at war for the past 10 years and some kids have never lived in a time when we weren't at war. It makes me incredibly sad. I still don't fully understand what happened that day and I probably never will. I understand that many innocent people died needlessly and I mourn that loss. I grieve over the loss of all innocent people--American, Afghan, Iraqi, or otherwise. Lord, heal us from our hate!