5 years
It's so crazy to realize that it has been 5 years since the attack on the US. It's weird to watch all of the footage. I still remember where I was when I first heard. I was in 8th grade going to history class. I walked past the office and there were a lot of parents picking up their kids. I remember Danielle Brubaker was there and I asked her what happened. Her mom told her that New York was bombed and they thought they were coming here next. Class then went on as normal as we tried to figure out what was going on. I rememebr Rafeal trying to tell us what he saw on TV. I think I stopped listening. At the end of the school day Mr. Oliver got on the PA to make an announcement. He said the US had been attacked. All after school activities were canceled. We were to go home and sit and talk with our parents. My parents weren't home when I got home. They were still working. My grammom was here. But I can't remember if I went into her room to talk to her or not. And that seemed to be it.
As I look at it now, 5 years later, and me 5 years older, I have a different out look. When it happened I was 13 years old. I don't want to say I didn't care, because I cared for all of those innocent people who lost their life that day. But I didn't care to watch the news a follow up. I think I just waited for my mom to fill me in. I'm not sure I even understood what actually happened. Five years later things make more sense. Being 18 and having graduated high school I'm watching this footage with a different mind set. I'm in shock. The shock I should have been in when it happened. But I didn't understand then or the years that followed. I think because its been 5 years there is more footage out. And I acutally have the time to see it. This time for the last four years I was never home long enough to see anything. School started and I was busy for field hockey and band. But now that I'm in college and working and not playing sports or in band any more I can watch the news. And its really crazy.
It hurts even more hearing about all of the fire fighters, police officers, and emts that lost their life that day and the days that followed. I guess its scarier because I couldn't imagine losing Steve in something like that. I couldn't imagaine losing anyone in that awful tragedy. I was talking with my mom last night and we were saying how awful it would be to be one of those unfortunate families who had a loved one who was still missing. To never know what really happened to them. Or give them a proper goodbye.
I am thankful for all of the troops over seas and on our own home front making sure this doesn't happen again. I am thankful for all of those who gave their life that day to try to save another.
Now that I can understand things even more this day will never be forgotten. I know I will learn more and more every year. Espeically with Steve by my side. I know he doesn't like to talk about it. So I ask questions here and there. I don't want him to have to think about it for too long and get upset.
It's things like this that make me love and hate his jobs more and more.