After playing "free tech support"/"customer service advocate" I sat down and asked my mother [my news resource, since I choose not to take the time to actually watch/pay attention to it] about the lady who will be on Oprah later today... I was a bit unsure as to what her circumstances surrounding 9/11 had actually been. After much discussion and reliving the feelings of the events, I decided to plug on and participate in this week's mission.
there's more where that came from...- Where were you and what was happening in your life the moment when you first became aware of what was happening at the World Trade Center in New York City last September 11th? What was the first thing you did when you heard the news? I was on the couch, sleeping. Sara was on her couch, sleeping, as well. Her cell phone rang. 'Grrr' thoughts ran through our heads as she rummaged around for her phone through gooey eyed sleep. (We didn't have to work until 2pm...so sleeping in was a given.) Immediately her tone turned serious, obviously the person on the other end [Sarah Z.] was having a 'difficult moment'. Sara's mind raced, searching for possibilities. "Is it your grandma? Is she okay?" she asked meagerly. Her faced turned to horror, eyes wide open, "The Towers are gone? The Pentagon's on fire?" Knowing full well we were being had for still sleeping, while Sara's graveyard shift friend had been up all night begrudgingly. I grabbed the remote and flicked on the tv to prove her wrong. Much to our dismay, we were suddenly bombarded by images we will never forget. Confused, anxious, and dazed... I picked up my phone, and called my mother. She debriefed me as to what all was happening, let me know Canela had gone to school unsure of what was to happen (she was scheduled to go out on a Leadership excursion), and we sort of shared mixed feelings of incomplete shock. Eventually we both [Sara & I] got off our respective phones and just looked at each other... and the media frenzy before us... and wept.
- When those truly responsible for the attack are apprehended, what do you think would be the most fitting form of justice? Vengeance is the Lord's... you reap what you sow... I don't believe there is any way to truly create justice out of such circumstances without overstepping our own abilities, and hurting innocent bystanders in the process.
- But how do you think the history books should present the 9-11 attacks? Should it be included for all future generations? How can we truly convey the shock, the outrage, the emotions and pain of that day to the children of our children? There's no way you could not include it! But do those of us who didn't live through Vietnam, the Stock Market Crash, or even WWI have any clue as to what really happened? or how people felt? or even the mere impact? No
- Did the events of 9-11 bring about a change in the way you live your life? Not necesarrily... it only made me appreciate, even more, the podunk-ness of my hometown!
- A year later, do you find yourself feeling more secure than back then? Or is it just a matter of time before something else happens? Honestly I wasn't supershocked. Stuff of this magnitude happens regularly in other countries. Only because we are so-called-Americans, did we ever think we were above such an attack! Heaven forbid something happen so close to home. As long as we don't report it, or keep it over on some other continent... we're good as gold! It makes me sick! Grrr!
- What, if anything, will you do to personally reflect on the tragedy? This is helping... I haven't really taken the time to reflect it all out in actual written words.
- What image will you always have in your mind when you recall the events of 9-11? the firemen carrying their chaplain out all grayed from the ash/debris
As for the 11th, I'll be working... making sure I tape any specials I deem interesting... and hanging out with kids at a Back-To-School rally
BONUS: Who's gonna come around when you break? All the kings horses and all the king's men... I just hope they can put me back together again!
