Picking Up the Pieces

Everyone knows what today is.

I don't have to remind you. If you meander over to your calendar, you will remember what today is and with a sad heart, possibly, you will walk back and continue reading this post.

Even if you forgot the day or date, when someone reminded you what did you instantly think? Did you mindfully say "Oh..." and go back to that horrible day?

It's funny how we can't seem to remember where we put our keys but with a tragedy like September 11, 2001, we can remember everything: what we were doing, where we were, what our first thoughts were. Some of us can remember a few days after that event: shoes and such uncovered in the debris, Pres. Bush's speech of we will overcome and we will remember, people urging him to send troops after those radicals.

I remember I was in the sixth grade. My teacher was handing out our history tests (go figure) when she was called into the hallway by her husband. We continued to take our tests. When we were finished, my teacher asked if they had any relatives in the World Trade Center. A few hands went up. I had no idea what that building was. Someone asked what I had been wondering and she answered.

A TV on a cart was wheeled in and we watched the broadcasts over and over again. My mom picked my brothers and me up early. I came home and my dad had it on TV. It was like I couldn't escape this horrendous happening. My mom was crying, my dad for a long time silent. When something was spoken it was a "My God...my God..."

I went to bed that night more scared than I had been my entire life. I prayed very hard. We live next to an air force base so all I was thinking about was another attack. I talked to Jesus until, out of emotional exhaustion, went to sleep.

Two nights after, my mom and I watched President Bush give his speech. He was planning on deploying troops to Afghanistan. We were relieved that something was being done. Many people turned to God and called on Jesus to help them in this terrible time.

Eight years and we're still remembering.

As we should be.