Where We Were

The 9/11 disaster is the Kennedy assassination of our time, and on an even grander scale. Everyone remembers what they were doing when they first saw or got the news about the planes crashing into the towers. I was square dancing with 3rd graders, of all things. I had been at work, teaching classes while all the live activity was unfolding on t.v. A co-worker came and told me what was happening during my 3rd class of the day. It felt numbing. I continued to go through the motions of my lessons. It was difficult to continue the dance after hearing about such tragedy. Also, I had concern in the back of my mind for my father-in-law who regularly flies, for American Airlines, the same type of planes that were used as weapons that day. There were televisions on in the workroom, in the office, in classrooms when children were elsewhere. Everyone wanted to keep in tune with the latest information. People were drawn to the screens wanting to understand what was happening, how it could happen. Our principal let us go right when school ended. I drove home and wanted Cody to come home as soon as possible. I just wanted to be with someone- to share my shock and sorrow. It's hard to believe it has been five years since that day. One thing I remember about that time is how the entire nation seemed to be drawn together. People didn't rush about for a while. We showed extreme kindness to friend and stranger alike. A nation-wide realignment of priority and selflessness took root and showed in our daily actions. And, after a while, I don't know how long, things slowly shifted back to the hectic, irritable, impatient lifestyle again.
9/11 revealed to us the absolute worst and best of humanity all at the same time.