Growing up, I always heard my parents and people their age (you know, old. Just kidding!) talk about where they were when Kennedy got shot. Obviously, I wasn’t born yet, and so I couldn’t really share in the conversations. However, I vividly remember where I was on September 11, 2001.
I was a Junior in High school, and I think I was in 2nd hour. We were in the middle of a lecture, when another teacher came in and pulled my teacher aside and whispered something in his ear. Our teacher then told us a plane had crashed into the WTC, and at first we thought it was a joke and didn’t believe him. Then, he pulled out the TV and I think later went home to find some rabbit ears so we could watch the news.
I just remember sitting in my desk being in shock, a little scared, and wanting to call and talk to my family. Here we were, just going about our morning routine, while our fellow Americans were dying in awful and scary ways. I prayed a lot that day, for the families, for President Bush, for the nation. I cannot believe it has been ten years since that awful day.
I am very patriotic, and so proud to be an American. It angers me beyond belief that this happened on our soil. It was a scary wake up call that no one is truly ever “safe” in your home, at work, on a plane, etc. In my opinion, the only TRUE safety and security is found in my relationship with the Lord. I believe HE is in control, and though tragedy may happen, He already knows how it all turns out, and whatever happens to me today, tomorrow, or 10 years from now, I don’t have to live in fear or anxiety. It is SUCH a freeing feeling!
I get choked up thinking about that sad day, and about all of the innocent lives lost, the families that lost their loved ones. I pray they have found hope and comfort over the years, and will remember that we have not forgotten about them, or their loved ones.
Ok, I need to move on or I am going to turn into an emotional wreck.
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Yesterday morning, Bobby and I were up at the crazy hour of 4:45 so we could meet with our Team in Training group for an 8 mile long run along the beach boardwalk and out and back over the crazy steep Ocean Springs Bridge.
It was nice having low humidity and temps in the upper 60’s to start, even though later the sun was beating down and it got well into the 70’s. we actually had a good run, completing 8 miles in 1:20:00. We came home, and immediately got to work staining our back fence. We have had the stain since we moved in 6 months ago (can you BELIEVE it’s been 6 months?!) but it has been way too hot to get out there and do it. It will take weeks to get it done, but we got a good start today!
I’m ready to paint, yall!
I made Bobby paint with the Disney paint brush. Because of this, I got a hidden Mickey from him. I guess the brush has a mind of it’s own?
do you see it?
So apparently, I paint too slow. My side on the left, Bobby’s on the right. I thought I was going fast!
Apparently I am also very sloppy. Oops. I look like I have chicken pox!
(fun fact: I got chicken pox when I was 5 or 6, a day or two before I was supposed to get my tonsils out. I was so happy b/c I thought this meant my tonsils could stay in….well…not so much. Also, I have a bunch of chicken pox scars, mainly on my hands/arms.)
Look how great it looks now!
THAT took over 2 hours…yeah…we have a long way to go. (We have to paint the inside, and other 3 sides, too!)
*RAFFLE on the blog TOMORROW! Great stuff you can win, please come back and check it out! All proceeds go to Team in Training!
QOTD: Where were you on September 11, 2001 when you heard the news?
Great job on the run and painting! Love the hidden Mickey 🙂
I’m still choked up watching the news all over again from that awful day. I’m an early bird so had been at work since about 7AM that morning. News reports tell us that the planes passed over Albany, directly over the tall building in which I work. Because my office is located on one of the higher falls, I frequently glanced out the window as they passed overhead. Now, every time one goes by there’s usually a little involuntary intake of breath. Anyway, I was at my desk when someone knocked on my door and told me what had happened. We were able to get a streaming video from NYC and watched as another plane hit, then a tower fell. I never saw the video from the second tower until several days later. At that point, I left work and drove immediately to our National Guard armory because I didn’t know what, if anything, would be needed. I ended up staying there for over 24 hours as hundreds of us waited there, each hoping that we would be able to go down to help. My time in NYC will never be forgotten. The dust, the awful smell that permeated the air, the anguished faces and lost looks on the families as they toured the areas set up for word on those missing and later deemed lost on that tragic day. NYC was unlike I had ever seen it. The silence was unbelievable. No sound at all because traffic had been shut down for blocks and blocks. It was like a blanket was draped over the City, muffling all sound. The Trade Center had always been a landmark to help orient me – when I was first on Vesey Street and looked up, that sense of loss physically stopped me. I didn’t take any pictures while I was there; I felt that doing so was almost dishonorable to the souls that I knew had to be watching us, and their families. What was important was doing whatever needed to be done at that moment. .. then I went to the Pier, where alot of families were waiting for news. I held it together til I saw people I knew waiting for the news about their husband, then a son, then a brother. My college roommate’s family. My cousin’s extended family. A friend from high school. Mayor Guiliani was walking through the Pier just then and the sight of him comforting the families gave me so much strength. I was asked to speak with him but immediately recoiled, asking that he speak instead with one of the soldiers who was a native NYC’er. Their grief was so palpable …am I rambling? This is the first time I have ever written this down. May God Bless all the families of the lost that day, especially the children who were denied the the comforting presence of their parents ever since. May we Never Forget.
wow! I had NO idea you were there after….thank you so much for sharing your story, I really really appreciate it. I cannot imagine what it was like to be there. You are so strong and so brave! amazing! Thank you for going and helping those people.
I think it’s great that you included the events of 9/11 in your post today. I think it’s so important to remember the events today and everday. It was a sad day, but it certainly doesn’t mean we forget about those who lost their lives and their families and friends still grieving.
I don’t think I could NOT write about it in good conscience. It is such a huge deal to me.
I just found your blog through SR and I’ve loved reading about all of your races 🙂 I just posted a 9/11 post too….kinda crazy how it’s been 10 whole years and it seems like just yesterday, isn’t it?
hi! thanks for coming over and saying hello!
yes it does seem like yesterday!
loved your post!
I was on my way to a college class when I walked through the dining hall and saw the coverage of the first plane on the tv. When I got to class the prof turned it on for a few minutes but then proceeded to teach. So by the time I got out of class the second plane had crashed. I went to college in PA so once that plane was reported they closed the college down. I will never forget that this was a huge thing happening and the prof dismissed it. Nothing he taught that day was more important then the state of our country. Then my roommate’s BF wanted to come visit bc there was no school. I thought it was so selfish of them to look at it that way….time to “get it on” instead think about those who were hurt or lost.
I know what you mean about being choked up when you think about the innocent lives lost that day. It’s truly heart breaking. Just watching the footage again today gets me teary-eyed. Hard to believe it’s been ten years.
In other news, your fence looks great, girl! Love that color on it!
thanks! it only took us 6 months to start it…lol
Love the hidden Mickey!! Nice paint (stain) job!
I get all emotional just thinking about 9/11. I was at work and heard a small plane had crashed into a building and then that it has been a passenger plane. Such a horrific event and yet such bravery.