I was 19 and driving to my calculus class at Wichita State. I'm sure I was running behind. I heard on the radio that the first tower had an airplane fly into it. At the time, I thought, "I bet it was another drunk pilot." At the time, the news had been reporting lots of drunk flying pilots. Then my next thought was what an idiot. I figured it was a single engine plane and that it had probably had a few casualties. Sad. When arriving to class, I saw tons of students gathered on the stoop of my building around a radio. I went in to class and our professor had turned on the news. It was at that moment I realized that the United States of America was under attack. I think I had always felt a false sense of security, because we were America. Everyone wanted to live here. Wars did not take place here. Most bombings/murders were caused by our own citizens. At least, my 19 year old brain believed that. What the hell was happening? After our class ended, I drove to work where we sat around a TV watching everything unfold. I felt completely helpless. We watched people crying and replays of people jumping to their death holding the hand of a stranger. Why would they do this to us?
I had to do something. I wasn't brave enough, nor did I have the means to drive to New York and help. But, I could do something here. With my whole paycheck, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought lots of ribbon and some friends from work and I sat in the floral area and made buttons and bows that we sold to raise money for the victims. In total, we probably didn't make much. I sent it anyway. Some is always better than none. I didn't know anyone personally, but I took it personally.
For the victims of 9/11, we pray for you and we will never forget. My children are now taught the events that made 9/11 a holiday for our nation and weren't alive to experience it first hand. I'm sure they will have their "I remember where I was the day.....happened." 9/11 is my I remember when....although I wish it was no one's.
God Bless our troops and their families who fight to keep us safe.
I was in my chorus class in high school when I found out. It was so shocking because I'd always had the same sense of security- that nothing like that could happen because we live in America and people don't attack America. Last night I sat and watched the news coverage from 9/11 and cried. All these years later it's still so heartbreaking to see. I can't believe it's been 10 years.
ReplyDeleteOn a way, WAY lighter note, your idea for DIYing the West Elm chandelier was GREAT!!!
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