I am not a writer, nor am I good with words, however I feel the need to type a little something tonight. I have been wanting to scrounge up my journal and letters to and from Dave on his mission from this time. Perhaps another night.
NINE. ELEVEN. Who would have thought that those two numbers could mean so much to many around the world. Feelings of sadness, grief, remembrance, sacrifice, patriotism, love, kindness, and so much more.
I cannot watch footage, see photos, or hear songs from that time without getting a little shaken up. Those images from that day are now history, but history never to be forgotten.
I woke up early that morning and headed to the U of U campus for my 7:00 am Business class. I remember having an eerie feeling on the way. The roads were quiet and my radio said something about a bomb at the world trade center. I had been to NYC before and seen the twin towers, but for some reason it didn't click that they were the same thing.
I went to class, it was the same as usual. But when I came out I ran into John Bradley, a friend from high school, outside the room (as we did most days at this time). He asked if I had heard about NYC and I said I heard something about the bomb. It was then that we turned to the tv's in the business center's cafe. Showing footage. Looking back now I don't know where I was when each tower fell and when the pentagon and flight 93 fell. But I remember all day long being glued to the tv or radio. Trying to figure it all out. I went home and hugged my family, took Natalie to a music lesson, but didn't want to leave anyone's sight. When I returned home I headed straight for the tv. For days we watched and watched and couldn't put words to it.
I will remember that eerie feeling from that morning and the rest of the day for the rest of my life.
When I visited the site of ground zero that feeling returned to me among other feelings indescribable.
To all Americans and others who lost loved ones, or have to deal with the pain associated with that day, I wish I could take the pain away. Ten years later, we haven't forgotten and still pray for comfort and love to be with all of us.
