10 years ago today I was a senior at Oak Ridge High School. I was home alone. My mom was out-of-town and my sister was staying at a friend’s house. I was still sleeping when I heard my mom’s TV on. For a moment I freaked out that someone was in my house. But then I remembered my mom wakes up to her TV and she probably just forgot to turn her alarm off.

I walked into her room to turn it off and this is when I saw the terrible events unfolding. I watched for a few minutes confused. I decided to call my mom. She had no idea what was going on. So, I tell her to turn on the TV.  She instructs me that I must go to school unless they send me home. I have no idea how I got ready that morning without being glued to the TV.

My first class of the day was contemporary literature. We wrote in journals every morning. Here is an excerpt from mine on that day:

“Today was a horrible day for the United States. In New York there has been a terrorist attack. Two planes from Boston were hijacked and crashed into the towers of the Trading buildings. And both towers eventually came down. Another plane, or two, we don’t know yet, came down on the Pentagon and a piece has crumbled away. There are also reports that car bombs went off in front of the State building and there was another plane crash in Pennsylvania. Many lives have been taken, this is a horrible event and it is sad what has happened!”

The rest of the school day is hazy. What I do remember though, is all of my teachers went through the day like nothing was happening. We had to sit in class and try to focus. I was so frustrated that none of them brought it up or discussed it with us.

10 years later I sit, listen and watch the names of those who were lost. I reflect. I take this time to thank all of those who sacrifice everyday to keep America safe: Our police , firemen/women, paramedics, and the armed services all around the world. THANK YOU!

Until next time…PEACE OUT!