How things change in ten years. I will never forget...
I am sitting here reflecting while watching the observances of the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Ten years ago, things were so different...
I had just gotten to school and was working in the Copy Room at the time. I shared the room with my friend and fellow co-worker, JT, who at the time was a floating aide. She would bring back the things teachers needed her to work on to her desk in the room. We had a radio in the room but we had never turned it on to listen to it. For some reason, JT decided to turn it on that morning and listen to some music. I had stepped out of the room for a bit to talk to another co-worker. I came back in and JT told me that it had just come over the news that a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. We talked about what a horrible accident that was. A bit later we heard that a second plane hit the other tower and I said, "We're going to war." I called H who at the time was home taking care of our youngest D, just 3. I asked him if he was listening to the news. He said no, that D3 was watching 'Dora the Explorer'. I told him he better turn on the news and told him what had happened.
In the next hours we heard about the Pentagon attack and the plane that went down in Shanksville, PA. All the TV's in the school were turned on and I remember going into the main office and seen many teachers sitting in the principal's office watching the news and some were crying. I peeked in just in time to watch one of the towers crumble down. The sky on that brilliant morning was black with debris and smoke. I saw terrifying images that will be forever etched in my mind.
No one knew what was to come next. Were the attacks done or were there more to come? I went back to the Copy Room. I continued my job. I came out to deliver some copies and looked up and there standing at the end of the hall was H with D3 in his arms. He'd come to check on me and the kids. I was so relieved that he was there. A man coming to check on the family that meant everything to him. That night we all huddled close thanking God we were together and safe.
We skip to 10 years later... Today H was supposed to be here at 9:00 am to pick up the girls and take them out. He wanted to come early so he could be home in time to watch the football game. He still wasn't here by 10. D13 texted him and he finally texted back and said he had gotten a late start and he was hopping in the shower and would be here soon. D13 texted back and said that D18 wouldn't be able to go because she had to be at work by one. 45 minutes later the house phone rings, it's H, he called to say that he was sitting out in the driveway waiting for the girls...He couldn't even come to the door that was 30 feet away...
