It seems like yesterday that I was standing in my kitchen with 8 month old Zack in his highchair and three year old Ansley in her booster. We were finishing up breakfast and Suzanne and I were on the phone having one of our long winded chat fests. Who knew that something so routine and familiar would become forever embedded in my mind?
Suzanne was watching Regis when she tells me something is going on--that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. I immediately turned on the Today show, from whatever kiddie show was on, and stood horrified as I watched the building burning. She and I stayed on the phone, each watching our respective channels when all of a sudden the second plane flew into the other building. I remember the sounds of shock and horror from the Today hosts and I remember saying to Suzanne "did you see that? was that a replay of the first crash?" It all seemed so surreal.
I drifted and tip toed around the house all morning while watching this horror unfold right before my eyes, trying to carry on normally because I had these two precious babies to keep safe. Gary told all his guys to go home and be with their families and he came home to us.
Things changed for a while. I was scared to leave the house for the fear of the unknowing. Would terrorists decide to attack Atlanta? I would drive the kids around endlessly pointing out and counting all the houses that were flying the American Flag. Friends and strangers were nicer, gentler, and kinder. I was proud of how we all came together.
I had always heard older people saying they remembered exactly where they were when Pearl Harbor was bombed or when Kennedy was shot. Now I know. I'll never forget the goings on of that very ordinary morning that turned into an extraordinary day.
Where were you?
