I thought all day about what I wanted to say regarding the terrorists attacks of 9/11/01. I didn't want to just say, "God Bless America," or "Remembering 9/11." Still, I truly don't have anything exceptional to say. But the one thing I noticed about today and how the 10 year anniversary has been covered, is that there are so many vantage points, experiences and stories from that day. Every person who experienced it, both directly and from afar, has a story to tell. From the person who missed the train and "should have" been there, to the last woman rescued from the rubble, there are still so many stories to be told. Every person who witnessed the horrible tragedy can remember where they were when they heard about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center, and the shock experienced when the second plane hit. The way I describe my experience is: After the first plane struck the North tower, 1 WTC, I was sitting in bed thinking, "Who the hell would make that mistake? How could they have flown so far off course?" I was so ignorant and especially naive. I'm thinking about the people who could have been affected on those floors, assuming that everyone else would be rescued or evacuated. As I sat and watched the building burn, the second plane came into view and hit the South tower, 2 WTC. At that very instant, EVERYTHING changed. Ignorance flew out of the window and reality hit like a ton of bricks: "Oh my God, we are under attack." It was nearly impossible for two planes to fly off course in that manner. From that point, everything else spiraled out of control. With two more plane crashes in D.C. and Pennsylvania, I swear I thought we were at the start of WWIII. That's a scary thought. Thankfully, it was not the start of WWIII, but it was the start of two very costly wars, both in human life and financially. After 9/11/01, our world changed forever.
My story is just a small story in the big scheme of things. I wasn't there. I didn't actually live it or physically experience it. Ironically, I met someone, just this evening, who was actually there, in New York, on 9/11/01. Her story...well guess what? She was on her way to the Coach Store located at the WTC. Coach was having their semi-annual sale I think, and she said she was on her way to go shopping with a friend. It happened that the babysitter for her friend's child was late, and she was on a bridge, heading into Manhattan when the attacks occurred. She watched everything that happened from that bridge, and her car was stuck there for 4 days. She walked from there to her home in Harlem-over 150 blocks. She "should have" been there. But thankfully wasn't. Hearing that tonight truly shook me to the core.
There are so many stories to be told, a seemingly infinite amount of perspectives. It will be years and years and years before all of the stories are told. Whether captured on video or expressed in a TV interview, each experience is unique in some way and I really wish I could hear them all. What is your story? Tell someone or write it down. Leave your perspective to be woven into the story of life after 9/11/01.
May the Lord continue to bless the people of the world, the people of the United States of America. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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