Reflection on 9/11

I realize my post yesterday did not accurately reflect my thoughts on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. To be honest, my day was not unlike most of my Sundays. In a way that is how I wanted it to be. I am thankful that even on a day that brings back memories of chaos, I can still go to the grocery store, bake banana bread and do my homework. I know that I owe a huge debt of gratitude to those who are fighting to maintain that freedom. I loved how many ways it was remembered from commercials to football games to memorial services.

I was on my way to Advisory my sophomore year of high school when my friend motioned to me and said, a plane had just hit the world trade center. I shrugged and said that sucks. As I sat down in class the actual reality hit me. I don't remember much of the rest of the school day. Our teachers went on with their days I think. No one was playing the footage for it in class but we all watched it that night. As a school counselor I don't think I would have shown it either. I can't even bring myself to watch it now, it seems masochistic in a sense that a television show would show it in real time. 10 years later I still can't stomach the thought of watching that again.

I remember one of my best friends at the time getting called to the office. It's blurry now but I don't think she remembered that her father was headed from Boston to LA that day, until her mom showed up to let her know that by the grace of God he hadn't gotten on that flight. Our field hockey practice or game was cancelled. I went back to my friends house briefly and sat with her family, counting their many blessings, we were all numb. I am sure our school offered counseling etc... but I don't remember it now. As high schoolers we were able to talk through it more with each other. How would I handle something like that today with elementary school students? I believe that is more for the parents to discuss with their children but it is something that would get mentioned. I live and work in a city now, what if it had happened here?

My strongest memory from 9/11 was that I played an ultimate frisbee game with my friends on our soccer field. Maybe I am still detached because it is easier to deal with the fear that way. At the time, I wasn't aware of the freedoms the terrorists had aimed to take from my country, but have lived with the ripple effect they created. As adults it is easier to feel that than as children. I was 16, but my world was so small, it was hard to imagine life could be larger than high school, that my world would change as a result of 9/11. My heart goes out to those who lost someone that day or have lost someone who has been fighting for our freedom.