Remember September

Strange how I can barely remember where my purse and keys are most days,

but can somehow tell you exactly where I was when I first heard about the attacks

ten years ago.

I was 19.

Taking college courses and working part time at Bob Evans.

It was Tuesday and I was supposed to be into work at 10am to do the Carry Out counter.

I was already in my work clothes and driving in my Tercel. Just listening to the radio like I always did.

I was on my way to {the now} Hub's house to get my apron that I had left from the day before.

It was almost 9am when I heard a short radio broadcast exclaiming the amount of paper that was coming from the sky in New York between switching channels.

They said there was ash and paper just falling. Everywhere.

No one yet knew that our country was under attack.

The only information available was that a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers.

I immediately called the Hub.

He hadn't heard anything about it.

I let him know I was stopping by his house to get my apron, and we hung up with our usual I Love You's.

I decided it was probably nothing.

Terrible accidents happen everyday.

When I got to his house it was just before 9am. I turned on the TV.

Just in time to witness the second plane smashing into the other tower.

I was awestruck.

And quickly realized this was no accident.

I called the Hub again to tell him what I just saw.

He asked me if I was still going to go to work.

I didn't know what else to do... so yes, I went to work.

When I got up there at 10am everyone was talking about it. Naturally.

We had a small breakroom with a rediculously small television that nearly every employee in the place was stationed to. And honestly, it was hard to watch.

To witness such a huge building crumble to pieces in a fury of smoke and ash, shakes you to the core.

I felt uneasy.

And very sad.

I did everything I could not to cry in front of people I didn't know.

I did everything I could to think of anything but those people.

The people who were trapped.

The people who were jumping to their death.

The people who were just crushed beneath millions of tons of rubble.

The shift went very slow.

And I was just ready to go home.

To be with the people I loved.

To hold them.

And talk to them.

Just because I could.

It was heartbreaking. To watch the coverage. Hear the stories. And see the destruction.

 Something I will never be able to forget.

I watched the one year anniversary documentary and bawled my eyes out reliving that terribly evil day.

And I cried when I watched the Memorial today.

I don't want to forget.

Because every single one of those people deserves to be remembered.

9/11/01