Jason Lowbridge
Professor Jerome M. McKeever
English 1010
18 September 2012
Word Count 587
It was a day that started out just like all of the others. I woke early, walked the dog, ate some breakfast and left for the office. Unfortunately, it ended up being a day like no other. Till this day, every thought and every emotion from September 11, 2001 are still so vivid in my memory. It is a memory that still angers and saddens me, yet makes me proud to be an American and has taught me some of life’s simple lessons.
That tragic morning, I remember hearing the talk around the office that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I called my wife to tell her and we both initially thought it was an unfortunate accident. Admittedly, we were a little confused how that could happen. Eventually, word spread throughout the office that it was actually a passenger jet that had hit the building. Drawn in by the number of people in the office conference room, I stepped in to watch the news unfolding about the tragic accident.
Then, almost in slow motion, the unthinkable happens and a another plane hits the second tower. I stood in complete and stunned silence. I remember seeing the look of fear and horror on my co-worker’s faces. I was feeling helpless. As I try and process the unthinkable, news of the attack on the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania filters in. For me, there was no worse fear than hearing one of the hijacked planes was in Ohio airspace and I cannot reach my family. Phone lines are jammed, buildings are being evacuated and traffic is at a complete standstill. It is not until I arrive home that I find out everybody is accounted for and safe. It felt like an eternity.
By now we all know the story of the countless deaths/murders, the cowardly killers, the chaos, the sadness and the unbelievable unity of the country. The days that followed were mixed
with sadness and anger. My wife and I watched endless hours of news coverage, yet the silence, both inside the house and outside, was deafening. Tears flowed, not only in our house, but throughout the country, as all the tragic stories poured in. Yet, despite the tragedy, there was a real sense of pride in the air as Americans rallied around one another. We were all proud to be Americans.
Because of that tragic day, and although a little cliché, I have learned that life is truly a gift and to appreciate every day. My life, as well as the lives of many others, forever changed. The life I have and the liberties that I have been given by living in this great country will always be appreciated. I will no longer take things for granted. I remembered to say “I Love You” to my family. I started to appreciate the warm sun on my face. I took time to appreciate nature and my surroundings. I learned not to let the small things in life bother me. Living near the airport, the low flying jets made me crazy. Today, the roaring engines now mean that we may have been battered and bruised, but our resolve is stronger than ever before. The American spirit is much more than bricks and mortar; it is a force of nature. September 11, 2001 brought back my spirit and appreciation for life. I will never again take things for granted.
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