On September 11th, 2001. I was only 8 years old and had just started 3rd grade. The day started normal, and for some reason-more then likely I had a headache-I found myself in the school's office making a call to my Grandmother. Out of nowhere, Gran says "Did you hear what happened to Uncle Frank's job?" [Uncle Frank-or "Shag" as I called him-was my aunt's at the time husband]. Before I could even respond the phone was snatched from my hands by the secretary and was sent back to class.
I went back to class not thinking much of it. As the day wore on we noticed a rapid decrease in our class size; as numerous parents were picking us students up.-I, though, wasn't picked up till school ended later that day as I would have gotten picked up on any other day.
I'm not 100% sure of the exact moment of how I found out about what had happened down in Manhattan-i don't remember having an actual conversation about it but I do remember seeing the same handful of clips over and over again on the television and the news never seemed to end. I also remember stating that the one clip of one of the towers falling resembled a backwards-flowing waterfall with really dirty water [Don't judge... i was 8! lol].
Anyway, i also remember when my uncle had come home-his train was delayed or something that morning preventing him from getting into work that morning-and I told him I was sorry for all that happened.
That night I found myself shaking. No idea what went through that mind that night... i just remember shaking.
Also too, I remember finding how weird it was too not see and hear planes flying in the sky [I was-and still am-obsessed with airplanes and flying!]. Over those next few days I counted each time I saw one in the sky.
I will never forget the sacrifices that were made that day, the multiple lives that were lost and the multiple lives that were saved.
**Gone but never Forgotten**
