I originally posted this on September 11, 2010.
I was on my way to work on that beautiful September morning,
listening to the radio as always. The first plane had hit, and the DJ's
were discussing what could make a plane veer off course that much. Then
the second plane hit. I could hear the disbelief in their voices when
they realized it wasn't a coincidence that two planes could hit the Twin
Towers within minutes of each other.
When I got to
work, my co-worker had the TV on in one of the attorney's offices. We
sat there in stunned silence and watched the news coverage. I remember
sliding out of the leather chair onto my knees when the first tower
fell. It was inconceivable to me that the lives of countless people had
just been wiped out.
By this time came news of the Pentagon being hit. We were under attack. In my lifetime.
It was simply unbelievable.
Charles
was driving to Atlanta to a telecom trade show with a co-worker and
another friend. As they neared the city, the electronic traffic signs
over the interstate said "Due to national emergency, the airport is
closed." He called me on his cell phone to find out what was going on and I cried as I told him the
news. When he arrived at the trade show, the large screen TVs that had
been set up around the Georgia World Congress Center were all tuned to
the news. Nobody bustled around the booths and spoke of technology.
Everyone was glued to the TVs.
I left work and picked
up Mr. Lego from the babysitter. He was only 7 months old. When I got
home, I sat in front of the TV all afternoon, holding him close. I
called my mom just to hear her voice. I cried as I watched the horror
unfold.
For the first time in my life, I realized the
depth of hatred that these people had for us and our freedoms. I had
grown up in the 80's when communism was the enemy and nuclear war was
the biggest fear the country faced. When the Cold War ended, we got
complacent. And underestimated the threat that terrorists posed. Oh,
there had been terrorist attacks on Americans on foreign soil. But I
guess like most Americans, I thought we were safe within our own
borders. How wrong we were!
September 11, 2001, changed everything.
May we never, ever forget.
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