Monday, September 11, 2006
A Time to Remember
I was at work about 20 minutes early. Someone at the front desk said something alarming which caused me to turn on the little television in my office and tune to the CBS affiliate station. It was the only station I could get a clear signal on.
Dark, billowing smoke was pouring out of the north tower. The synapses in my brain made the instantaneous conclusion that a plane had hit the tower even before I heard a newscaster state as much. I was quickly reaching a level of stunned disbelief commensurate with a tragic accident while I was taking in the images being broadcast on the tiny 6" black and white screen. I was edging into a "tragic but acceptible" stage when the second plane sailed into view and sliced through the south tower.
And I went numb.
I sat for a very long time unable to grasp what I'd just witnessed. Then there was the report that a plane slammed into the pentagon. I went down the hall to see the reports on the office television - the color surprised me. Made it too real. I went back to my office to watch and listen.
Then the south tower collapsed.
Then the north tower collapsed.
My ability to comprehend collapsed.
Up until this last week, I'd avoided most reports and rehashing of the events of September 11, 2001. This past week I chose to watch two re-enactments produced by the Discovery Channel. It's taken five years for me to reach a point where I felt I could handle it emotionally.
Today, however, the anniversary passed and I wasn't even thinking about it. I'm wondering if that was right.
And I'm feeling a little ashamed.
And angry.
But I'm going to let the anger go for a moment. The men and women and children who were unwilling sacrifices to misguided fanaticism deserve to be remembered with peace.
Remember.
Dark, billowing smoke was pouring out of the north tower. The synapses in my brain made the instantaneous conclusion that a plane had hit the tower even before I heard a newscaster state as much. I was quickly reaching a level of stunned disbelief commensurate with a tragic accident while I was taking in the images being broadcast on the tiny 6" black and white screen. I was edging into a "tragic but acceptible" stage when the second plane sailed into view and sliced through the south tower.
And I went numb.
I sat for a very long time unable to grasp what I'd just witnessed. Then there was the report that a plane slammed into the pentagon. I went down the hall to see the reports on the office television - the color surprised me. Made it too real. I went back to my office to watch and listen.
Then the south tower collapsed.
Then the north tower collapsed.
My ability to comprehend collapsed.
Up until this last week, I'd avoided most reports and rehashing of the events of September 11, 2001. This past week I chose to watch two re-enactments produced by the Discovery Channel. It's taken five years for me to reach a point where I felt I could handle it emotionally.
Today, however, the anniversary passed and I wasn't even thinking about it. I'm wondering if that was right.
And I'm feeling a little ashamed.
And angry.
But I'm going to let the anger go for a moment. The men and women and children who were unwilling sacrifices to misguided fanaticism deserve to be remembered with peace.
Remember.
Posted at 6:23 PM | |
