I normally don’t openly say much about national holidays or significant events. But this morning, after my run, I opened the newspaper and the inevitable hit me: to today marks the 11th anniversary of that day. Leading up to this day, I hoped to not make note of it, to make it just like any other day, because by not remembering every vivid detail of that morning, I thought I could put it away in my memory banks.
But I can’t. And this day it seems the events of 11 years ago is more significant than ever.
I was in 4th grade that year. We had just started the new school year; I was a student in room 20. That morning, before I could wake up from my dreamy state of sleep, my dad shook me awake and called me to the tiny television set we had in the living room of our apartment. There were flames on the screen. I could see smoke but nothing more. I hid behind the flower-patterned couch. Then something made a loud boom and another ball of fire rose into the sky.
I didn’t really understand what had happened. I still don’t fully understand now. But I do remember walking into the classroom that morning, my teacher in complete shock, the television set turned on in the classroom. It wasn’t until after morning announcements that the television was turned off but the shock still lingered.
Maybe it still lingers for me. Today, 11 years later, I will be visiting room “20” again. Though in a different location, it will still invoke the memories of that morning.
It happened 11 years ago but it feels like it was just yesterday, I was cowering behind the couch, wondering what had happened.
That day happened to also be my friend’s dad’s birthday. It still is his birthday today. I hope you are doing alright, Chels. And I hope your family is too. Wish your dad happy birthday for me, please?
And to all those that lost theirs lives that day, your memory lives on. May we never forget that fateful day which changed the history of this country forever.
Journal of a Nerd Foodie 