Well, yesterday I talked about the Bruce Springsteen album The Rising and how it was Springsteen's response to 9/11. This album brought hope to a country that needed it.
Well, I have my own little story to tell about 9/11:
I grew up about ten miles from NYC across the river in New Jersey, and you could see the city from many parts of my hometown.
September 11th, 2001: I remember being in 6th grade at that time. It was second period and I had my math class. I remember going to my locker and getting my stuff and then going to the classroom and sitting down with my fellow classmates. One of my classmates informed me that something was going on. I wondered what and when the teacher got into the room, we asked her but she said "Don't worry about it", though she seemed a bit distraught. It was weird. So we went on with the class as usual, though everyone seemed distracted.
After the class, I proceeded to go to the next class I had, which I believe was gym and on the way to the gym I passed the office and a bunch of people were peering into the tv. Something wasn't right here, I could tell. Something was going on.
The day went on as usual, and during my last class, the teachers told us to go straight home. It was a very unusual thing for our teachers to say. So I walked to the bus, passing a lot of parents who came to pick their children up early from school. So I got on the bus and went home. When I got there, my dad was home! Now this wasn't right, because my dad was never home when I got home from school, as he didn't get out from work until later. Usually it was only my grandma. They greeted me at the door and I remember being excited my dad was home but at the same time wondered why he was home, so I asked him. I'm a child so of course I'm curious. We went to the living room, flipped on the tv, and were greeted with the news that the World Trade Center had been attacked by passenger jets and the buildings have collapsed and that also the Pentagon in Washington DC was attacked and another plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Not too long ago I had been on top of those towers, looking out at the city below. They were amazing memories with my parents and I. We always passed the World Trade Center when we were in NYC, they always dazzled me. Let me tell you, those buildings were some of the coolest buildings I have ever seen.
When I went to visit dad at his office, I would always see them. My dad worked in Jersey City in a building on the river, right across from where you could see the World Trade Center. It was really beautiful.
I had all these memories of the place and, at that time, I was just confused about how all this could happen. As I grew up, I matured and, though still confused by it, I understood everything around that day, at least as best I could.
My dad told me his boss saw the second plane hit. Everyone in his building left, because, I believe, NYC needed to clear the surrounding area to use for bases, bodies, equipment, and for people to go as Lower Manhattan was evacuated. Everything was a mess
NYC shut down, and I had never seen more national chaos so close to home before. I was both curious and a bit frightened. I was young.
I remember on the anniversary of it a year later, they had those huge two lights shine in the sky, and it was a sight to see. It was a memorial to the World Trade Center, and you could see it from my hometown.
It's still slightly eerie to go to the lookout in my town and see the NYC skyline withouth the towers. I grew up around them, it's so crazy to know they are gone and to know I was up there once on top of the towers.
There is a memorial at the lookout in my town for the 9/11 victims. It's a really nice memorial. I go there every time I visit, for that and the view.
I remember, later, Dad mentioning he used to work in the World Trade Center before I was born, but left. I still sometimes tell myself how lucky I am that he wasn't working there when all this happened. I am lucky.
It sucks that this happened, and it sucks that it did. I have visited ground zero a bunch of times, and it always does something to you, and makes you realize that you should never forget what happened. Looking back on it all, it's still so hard to believe it happened. I had never seen so many people hurt around me.
Listening to The Rising now, it brings back memories of it all and it also makes me realize how important this album was in history and how it tells a story that I lived through, that I witnessed. It all still brings some tears. I've been tearing up a little writing this, no lie.
I don't think I can ever forget what happened to me, this country, and the world around me that day, and I look back and I realize how far we have come since. Sure, the country has it's problems, but we have come a long way. And I still try to search for the beauty. Springsteen definitely had the right idea with this album, as it is hopeful and tragic at the same time, this album paints the country and it's people's response to the attacks very beautifully and caring. For me, this album is part of my history.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and letting me share my memory, and I would be interested in hearing any stories you have of that day. I could go on and on and on, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask me.
Anyway, that's all I have for tonight, time to sleep and get back to classes tomorrow. I bid everyone a good night.
And remember...never forget.
-The AR
~this post is dedicated to the victims and rescuers who died in the 9/11 attacks. RIP and may you find a peaceful light~
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