story7886.xml

story7886.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-18

While we were all sitting in class that fateful day waiting to be able to understand what our chemistry teacher was talking about we heard the crackle of the school P.A. system. ?? Teachers please excuse the interruption?? Dr. Deu stands there rolls her eyes and says something about rude administrators. ?? As you al may have already heard, we have just gotten wind that a plane has just hit the pentagon and two more have hit the world train center in New York City. There have been no reports of injuries as of this moment but we will keep you updated. Please go one as if today is a normal day.??
Yeah Right. September eleventh will never be remembered as a normal day so of course we did not treat it as such. My first reaction was; what? No one injured? They must be crazy or misinformed, but maybe I was in shock and did not hear the announcement correctly. I also said to myself and those in my work group; that was not an accident. And we all mouthed one word. Terrorists.
Dr. Due was intent on following orders so we continued on our lesson. However, we obviously got nothing out of it she finally quit and let us watch TV. We turned it on just as the south tower fell.
Because of the fact that my school is located about twenty minutes from our nations capital many of the students have or had parents who worked in or around the pentagon. Because of this, our school allowed us to call our parents to see if every thing was all right. During this escapade my fellow students and I sat around and talked and just said over and over, wow all those people.
All day we spent watching the news, in every class, even at lunch. There was an eerie silence in the hallways. People silently weeping and others just standing, thinking, hugging or seething.
Once I reached home I searched my house trying to find my parents. The night before I had had an argument with my mother and left the house for school not even saying good-bye. However, when I found her we just looked at each other, smiled, hugged, and then cried. All those people. All those families, fathers, mothers, kids, and friends.
Like every other family in the country, the TV was kept on all evening and throughout the night.
The next day we had no school due to the national emergency or something. SO I spent the day in personal meditation and bible reading. This is what helped me to get throughout that day, that week, that month. This year. The scripture I focused on was Revelation 21:3,4 ??And God will wipe every tear form their eyes and death will be no more, neither will morning nor outcry nor pain be anymore, the former things have passed away. And also the scripture where Jesus says to the robber, ??You will be with me in paradise.?? Remembering these things helped me to calm all the anger and sadness, I felt and I was able to console others. Being one of Jehovah??s Witness, I found that my speaking with people that week was a very enlightening and encouraging experience. Talking about the bible seemed to be just what people wanted. For a short time anyway, people were confused and needed help wherever they could find it. Or maybe just someone to talk with. All those people...
Though every thing is back to normal now, I will never forget how people came together no matter who they were. It is a wonderful preview for what will be upon us in the future.