I was sitting on the edge of the bed, a little after 6 a.m. in our house in Washington state. Glancing at the TV, I'm absentmindedly aware that things are not as they should be. A plane hits a tower and the whole world changes.
We worked on a Federal shipyard with nuclear-powered ships back on that Tuesday, 15 years ago today. We drove to work through security gates that were probably a little lackadaisical the day before, but not this day. The sky was falling, or so it appeared, and no one could tell us where it would fall next but being on a nuclear shipyard kinda felt like "here" was next. Everyone showed up anyway.
Life as we knew it had changed forever that day. I knew it in my heart as I entered the building where I worked, unlocked classrooms, and went about the business of starting the day.
I knew it as I sat through a morning briefing and my mind could not fathom how we all sat so quietly and calmly while our hearts were breaking in pieces. I knew it as I met with my boss and told him I had to go home even though it was only 10 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. I showed up, but I couldn't stay...and, thankfully, he understood.
More than anything that happened that day, the 40 heroic passengers and crew on United Flight 93 showed me how to live my life or die trying.
When I went home that sad Tuesday in September, I went to bed. I stayed there for 2 days and, spiritually, I might have never gotten up again had I not seen the story of the heroes of United Flight 93.
Those 40 people gave me the courage to get up and try to live a better, less hectic, life. Within 6 months, Bill and I had moved across the country to new jobs, a new home, a new life. Our new life brought us a freedom that had been lacking in our last one.
As I'm sure it did for you, life as we knew it had changed forever that day.
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I know exactly what you mean. Within two years we retired, left California, moved to Georgia and knew we'd never feel the same about things. We know what's important.
ReplyDeleteA moving account of your day. I know exactly what you were feeling and how you still feel. Living so close to Washington DC, for my husband who worked so near the Pentagon, it became a very long day as he was unable to get out of DC easily to get home because he took the Metro (subway) in.
ReplyDeleteLife truly changed on so many levels that day and for so many people.
WOW!! What an interesting post and so heart felt! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and what you decided to do with your life after that day in which the world changed for all of us.It was a day that I will never forget as I mentioned in my post because all I think of was that I was once there, at the top of the North tower. Several people in our area lost their lives that day. It is one that will remain with us all for the rest of our lives I am sure. Some day, I do want to go and see the Memorial.....
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts!
Hugs,
Debbie
I think it ultimately led to my last divorce (I married the same man twice.) 9/11 made you realize what was important, but also, what WASN'T working. It made life more precious, and made me want to not waste another second in a bad relationship.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right,
we need to enjoy our lives while we can.
I know how terrified I was, along with the grief.
I don't think there was anyone that ever thought such a thing could happen
and now we know.
I live very close to the biggest Arsenal in the country
and that fact scares me sometimes.
But you are right of course,
We need to crawl out of the grief and the fear
and LIVE while we can.
XOXO
So Interesting to read everyone account of 9 11 we all were in different states but in the same state of mind. :)
ReplyDelete