9 Years

9 years ago today, my mother came and picked me up at school. I was mad--we were using microscopes in our 5th grade science class. I didnt want to leave. She told me I had an appointment but I knew I didnt.

She rushed me to the car and we went to get my sister at her school. No one said anything. We went home quickly. My mother told us that planes had flown into the World Trade Centers in New York and the Pentagon. She was worried the terrorists were going to continue their attacks.

I didnt quite understand the impact at first. I knew about the Trade Centers but I didnt know enough: how many people worked there, their importance--what a big deal this attack was.

I turned on the television to see replays of the crashing planes over and over again on every channel. People were jumping from the building, walls came crashing down and firefighters were trying to diminish the flames. People screaming and crying--looking for loved ones and trying to understand what had happened.

I remember the days after when bodies were counted through the rubble and they just kept finding more. and more. and more. I remember when the list was finally complete--2,819 (link). Almost 3000 people are gone from something so horrific its almost difficult to talk about.

Even though over time I understood more about the attacks, it didnt ever ring that close to home. Despite my locational closeness to the city, I didnt know anyone who had died and I didnt know anyone that knew anyone that died.

Coming to college changed all that. I know people that lost parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents and friends. I know people that have relatives suffering from cancer and medical problems from the debris that filled their lungs as they tried to save others. I know people that had to sit for hours, days to find out if their loved ones were okay.

and I will never be able to understand that pain.

To anyone that lost someone in the September 11, 2001 attacks--may that person rest in peace and may you always remember the life they had as well lived.