Sunday, September 11, 2011

Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago, Hubs was out fishing with my brother. My two oldest girls were at home with me. They were 2 and 4 years old.

My Mom called me in disbelief to tell me to turn on the TV. A plane had just flown into the World Trade Center.

I watched in horror, as smoke poured out of the tower. Then, in even greater horror, as yet another plane hit the other tower.

My girls were there, and they saw it. I tried to explain to them the best that I could what was going on, without telling them too much. How do you explain such evil? Such loss?

I couldn't do anything but stay glued to the TV screen, not wanting to watch, but unable to look away. The fire. The smoke. The towers crashing down, one by one. Unbelievable.

Hubs used to live in New York. He had been to the World Trade Center. He told us how impressive the Twin Towers were, and how there were so many people who worked there each day. So many people, who were now trapped. So many people who had died. Some in the buildings. Some while trying to save them. Some in the planes that were used as weapons.

That was ten years ago today.

My "babies" are now 12 and 14. My youngest is 9. She wasn't even born when it happened.

We just got done watching a memorial show about the day it happened. My two oldest girls were watching it too, and this time, they understood. I have been avoiding watching anything about it, because it just makes me so sad. Makes me think about how many people died that day, and the families they left behind.

Families just like mine.

There is a picture of a man as he is falling off a building. He is wearing dress clothes. He has brown hair.

Hubs wears a suit and tie every day for his job. It could have been him in that picture.

I was thinking about this man's family. If, when they saw this picture, they were able to recognize that it was him. How terrible it must have been for him to make the choice, to jump out of a building, rather than the alternative. How terrible for his family to see the picture of him as he is falling. The last picture of him alive.

My mind goes to dark places when I think about the events of that day. How could this happen in America? I thought we were safe here on our own soil? Could it happen again? What if it was me and my family next time?

We will never forget the lives that were lost that day.

I am thankful for the men and women who respond when something like this happens. The people who risk their lives to save others.

I am thankful for the people in the military who are still fighting to protect our freedoms, and their families who sacrifice for the good of our country.

They sang this song at church today.



Although it is not a tribute song to 9/11, it fits. He's still got the whole world in His hands. It's a good reminder to me.

To us all.


2 comments:

  1. Me too! Being a Long Islander it seems so odd that The Twin Towers are no longer part of the skyline. I wasn't married yet and was teaching second grade when it happened. I remember hoping none of the children brought it up because it was so difficult to explain.

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  2. I wish I could have seen them in person too :(

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