Ten Years Ago, America Changed Forever

 I can't imagine there being too many American's who have forgotten where they were or what they were doing at the precise moment they learned of the attacks on America ten years ago today.  I know I'll never forget.

In the weeks before 9/11 my brother was in a terrible accident that left him fighting for his life, on September 1st to be exact.  I had rushed to see him from several states away.  The doctors immediately began preparing us for the worst.  Throughout the first week there was so much uncertainty but through prayers from family members, friends and co-workers we found hope.  There were so many moments that brought our family closer together throughout this awful experience.

Finally, on September 10th they moved him out of ICU to his very own room.  He still had a fight ahead of him and no doubt his life would be forever changed  by this awful event but I knew that he had the best support system ever, his companion for life, nurse, wife-to-be, friend forever. It was time I made plans to get back home to my own responsibilities.  I was scheduled to leave for Florida on September 11th.  The next morning while the Docs were doing their daily rounds we overheard them comment on my brothers choice to watch Scooby Doo vs. the sad and depressing news.  Could have been the meds but my brother seemed to have no interest in what they were talking about.  It took a few minutes but my curiosity got the best of me so I finally had to pull the big sister attitude and whip the remote control out of his  hand, who cares if he had been sleeping for the last 10 days, I needed to find out what in the heck was going on.  As I tuned into the news a feeling of sheer shock and horror consumed me as I watched the smoke billowing out of the towers.  The terror in peoples faces was unimaginable, I just wanted to reach out to them through the television and pull them to safety.  Wow, numb, confused, helpless...all of us speechless.  This can't be happening in our country.  Who is it?  What is it?  Where are they coming from?  Why?  Why?  Why? So many questions.

Then it hits me AIRPLANE!!  Where in the freakin' skies is my husband-at that time an airline pilot.  We had previously lived in Maryland so our cell phones were still under the 410 area code.  Good luck getting through to anyone living anywhere on the East Coast.  At that time they didn't know how many other airplanes could possibly have been taken over.  I obsessively dialed his number 5000 times and finally reached him about an hour after the second tower collapsed.  He and his crew had been diverted to Orlando, he had no idea what was going on since he was advised to immediately land with no explanation.  The ATC earned their money that day.  Upon landing he was greeted with full on geared up fighting soldiers.  I can only imagine what went through the minds of everyone getting off the airplanes that day.

Visions of this day will forever haunt us.  People literally running for their lives and jumping from over 100 stories.  I've asked myself  what would you do?  I don't know, my two biggest fears in life are heights and fire.  I couldn't choose, they are both equally terrifying.  The thought of the desperation these people must have felt is still so heartbreaking to this day.  No one could help them.

In the weeks following 9/11, I was never more proud of our nation.  Much like going through this experience with my brothers accident, through tragedy we found unification.  The outpouring of love and support from everywhere all over the world was phenomenal.   The sound of people chanting "USA", the countless American Flags that were proudly displayed outside of homes and businesses.  We were a unified nation, unstoppable.  President Bush's speech was heartfelt and unforgettable.  Love him or hate him.  It was no longer about being a democrat or a republican, it was about being an American.  The days following our country showed the utmost strength and courage...I felt safe, even after all of the footage seen on TV.  I thought our country would take every step to avoid a repeat of what we just saw unfold right before our very eyes. Maybe that was being oddly optimistic in such time of great devastation.  However, I  also knew that we would have to be diligent about protecting our country for years to come.  Nothing would ever be the same.  We had been completely stripped from our sense of security.

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Here is a link to one of my favorite daily blog reads,  Inspirations by D she has some fantastic pictures on the progress of the Memorial.  It's completion  is something I've looked forward to seeing since the months after 9/11.  I believe it will be a strong symbolic message that we will and have prevailed.  Even through all of our countries faults and mistakes there is no other place on this earth I would rather be.  Land of the free...home of the brave.  This is as good as it gets...failing economy and all. God Bless America and God Bless all of the lives lost on that fateful day.  We will never forget.

Please take a minute and comment about where you were on September 11, 2001.  It was a significant day for every American.