I won't spend much time on this post, but I'd like to take a minute to remember.
It seems unreal to me that the tragic attack on our country, now merely referred to as 9-11, took place five years ago. It feels like a lifetime and just a second, all wrapped into one. Do you remember what you were doing that morning? I was living with two good friends in college at Central Missouri State University. Getting ready for my morning finance class, I turned on the TV as I normally did to see what was happening in the world. The first plane had just struck the towers.
My initial reaction was, “why are they showing this old piece of footage?”. I thought immediately it was video taken during the first attack on the World Trade Center, in which a truck bomb was detonated in the underground parking garage years before. Then it occurred to me, “why would a parking garage bomb create billowing smoke from the TOP of the building?”. That's when it became abundantly clear this was not the same incident.
I ran to one of my roommate's doors and banged on it to wake him up - “looks like we're being attacked or something”, I shouted. Being asleep, he largely ignored my announcement, so I returned to watch the TV.
Right before I left for class that morning, the second plane flew through the towers. I had to sit in disbelief - why anybody would want to do such a heinous act was beyond my comprehension. In any case, I gathered my thoughts and headed to class. On the ride to school, I listened intently as the reporters described the situation - gloomy and ominous, it was like listening to a modern-day version of “War of the Worlds”.
Finally, as I began to make my way out of the Jeep, I heard something that gives me chills to this day, “the tower is falling, the building is collapsing on itself”. How could this horrific thing happen? What about all the poor people trapped inside. What about their families? I know many people were in shock - I, however, was deeply angered. If only I could get a hold of the SOB that was responsible for this...
In any case, I made my way through the halls of CMSU, overhearing the dull roar of conversation. It was astonishing how many people didn't know anything was going on or thought that it was still an accident. I assume they hadn't heard about the second plane or even that the towers were collapsing. Surely, I thought, my professor would let us go home to watch things unfold. Unfortunately, she did not and instead chose to plug along through class as if nothing was happening. I guess it just helped to illustrate that not everyone was fully capable of grasping the immediate gravity of the situation - maybe it was the shock, maybe they hadn't heard of everything that was happening, maybe it was just pure disbelief. Whatever the case, it was a surreal day.
After returning home, I sat and watched in horror as the day played out. Planes crashing into the Pentagon, a field in Pennsylvania, people jumping to their deaths...how could such a thing happen? I hope I never again have to feel the bitter mix of emotions that pulsed through my veins that day - shock, horror, extreme grief, and a raging anger.
In any case, the only real point to this was to remember what happened five years ago today - I don't ever want to forget. Apologies for any rambling and God Bless the many families and friends who lost someone special to their lives on that day. May good ultimately triumph over evil and the American people keep steadfast in their resolve to defeat a bitter, heartless, savage enemy.