Where were you?

I had lived with my aunt and uncle for almost 3 months-first time away from home since graduating high school, I moved in with them to watch my baby cousin while they worked and go to school at night. I remember my uncle waking me up way to early that September morning, something was wrong. I stumbled into the living room and gawked at the television screen as the first tower was burning up...a plane had hit it. Wow, what I tragedy. I sat in the room watching the news as he went in to get my aunt and then the hair on my skin stood on end and I leaned into the TV closer to see if my eyes were actually seeing a second plane in the distance. My mouth opened to scream out, but no sound came as I realized in the brief instance what was about to happen, and as I sat in the empty living room, a lone witness to the plane slam into the second tower. I hollered for my uncle retelling what had just occurred, surely that didn't just happen-but it had. They played it over and again and I along with millions of other tuned in Americans had witnessed LIVE. My first reaction was that there was seriously something wrong with the navigational equipment, but upon further news I realized this was nothing so coincidental-this was an act of War, this was terrorism.

The day was a blur to say anything. I wasn't in New York, I didn't know anyone who was directly affected by the tragedy and yet all of America knew and was afraid of what this meant. We were attacked. We were at war. The president compared it to Pearl Harber, but I remember uttering those words early that morning. Who would dare attack on our soil? And why? I left that morning and went to church, just to pray and was surprised to see the doors open and the pews crowded. I was not alone in my reaction to turn towards God. Later I went to work at Boswell's party store. I entered a frenzy as my boss hurled a box at me marked "4Th of July." Patrice had pulled all the American memorabilia from the stock room and we could not keep the Patriotic items on the shelves. Flags and flagpoles, buttons and banners were being pulled off the shelves as fast as we were putting them up. I was put to the balloons once we were out of stock and red, white and blue bouquets were in ample supply. EVERYONE wanted to show their allegiance and support in any way shape and/or fashion. I remember looking at Judy, a retiree who worked part time for the store, and asking her if we were at war. I remember her eyes, hollow and unknowing staring back at me with the same question running through her mind. All of us college employees seemed to gather comfort being near her as she recounted memories of war from her own childhood. I remember looking at Riccardo and thinking what war meant, and whether or not another Draft would be in our near future.

That night I had a date previously scheduled with Ryan. We were supposed to be going to the city for dinner, but my mom had called earlier that day pleading me to stay near home, which would have happened anyway because the Bay Bridge had been closed due to the high alert system and fears of further terrorism. We went to dinner in town instead and it was a very somber dinner as we discussed the events of the morning, the tone of the day, and the fears of the future. After dinner he took me to a movie-a comedy, but half way through it we agreed to leave. It didn't fill right to be there and we weren't laughing anyway. He took me home. I went to bed.

I woke up the following morning and life went on, slowly less people attended church. Cops lost thier instant respect. Overtime, others forgot why we had troops over seas. And Americans became spoiled thinking themselves safe again. But I must admit. When I think of 9/11, even 10 years later, I get that sick, scared feeling in my stomach all over again as I did while I sat in the living room gawking at the screen watching the second plane hit and I know that I will never forget. I will always be thankful for the country I live in, the God I serve and the military that risk their lives everyday defending the honor and safety of our Nation.