I didn’t know if I would post anything regarding the 10th anniversary of 9/11, but prompted by another blog that I read, Sidewalk Ready, I’m sharing where I was on that day.
I was a junior in college at Western Michigan University. At that time, my normal mornings began watching cartoons on Nickelodeon since I usually fell asleep to Nick at Nite. I don’t remember if I changed the channel that morning or if even Nickelodeon was playing the footage of New York City, but I remember watching the tower smoke after the first plane hit. I continued getting ready for my morning class because at that time no one even realized it was a terrorist attack – yes, it was scary and horrible, but for at least a short while, it seemed to be an accident. It seems so obvious in retrospect, but at the time I clearly remember the confusion and naive speculation involved. There was a sense of childlike innocence for the entire country that was shattered that morning. I imagine people must have felt similarly during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
I even walked to class that morning, leaving the television and non-stop coverage. In the library, I heard that all classes would be cancelled for the remainder of the day. That year I was a Resident Assistant in the dorms so I hung signs in the halls letting the students know of the class cancellation. I remember a student giving a cheer of excitement. I can only imagine how he felt when he finally realized the enormity of the day and how petty a class cancellation is in comparison to what people lost.
Mr. Lemon and I had not yet even met, but he was also at Western Michigan University and he very clearly remembers eating his cereal and watching the second airplane hit the tower. I assume I didn’t actually see that because I don’t remember the shock of it. Mr. Lemon is actually flying today which made us both a bit nervous. He texted “I love you” right before he boarded the plane. Of course this choked me up and I imagined all of the people ten years ago who were not able to give such a message to their loved ones.
Of course, those of us who lived through that day can never forget it.
Where were you?
This Nest is Best 
I was at home getting ready to attend my great aunt’s funeral. My husband called and said I should turn the TV on, and was shocked to see the news unfolding before my eyes. The plane had just hit the first tower and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was glued to the TV until it was time to leave for the funeral. As I drove to the funeral home I listened to the radio as they announced the plane that went down in Pennsylvania and that there was another plane unaccounted for heading towards Washington DC. I felt almost certain it was the end of our country as we knew it. Such a sad day in our country’s history.