It started out as a routine weekday morning. I dropped Taylor off at preschool, and then I went upstairs to track inside the church gym. As I was walking my radio kept losing signal (I think this was before MP3 players were popular), so I stepped outside to my car. When I opened my car door that's when my phone was ringing. It was my mom calling me to tell me to get home and watch the TV with her. I left the church and left Taylor at school because I had no idea at the time as to what was going on.
As soon as I walked in the door I immediately saw the fear, concern, and sadness all over my moms face! It was at that moment the second plane crashed into the second tower. We both stood there in disbelief. Why was this happening? Who is behind this? So many questions we were asking out loud as the tears rolled down our faces. Once the severity of the situation sank in and we realized that this was no accident, I immediately went to the church to pick up Taylor. The shock on everyone's face was like nothing I had seen before. Parents were consoling one another. Some had family in NYC and were desperately trying to get in touch while trying to pick up their child. It was sad.
On the way home, I received a phone call from work. I worked at Eddie Bauer in the Mall of Georgia at the time. They said that the mall was closed and to stay home with our families. When I walked back into the house I saw the buildings collapse and people running for safety as the dust walls raced behind them down the streets. Those poor people running for their lives, not knowing what was in that huge wall of dust and debris. It was very heartbreaking to watch.
The President ordered all planes to be grounded. There was an eerie silence outside, not even a bird was chirping. You never realize how comforting a sound is until you no longer hear it. Not hearing a plane buzzing over your head in the sky and knowing why was one of the scariest and uneasy feelings I have felt in a long time.
So, today as we reflect back on memories of that day, I share my story with my daughters because they were too little to understand what happened. They need to understand what Patriots Day stands for. Every year I remind them about that day and what I was doing. It's comforting to talk about it. Though our family was not directly affect by the 9/11 tragedy, my heart still aches for lives lost on that day.
Never forget.
