September 11th
Today marks the 12th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
There is a campaign underway to, “Take a day to remember the day that changed us forever.”
Queue Robert De Nero:
“Take a day to pause. Take a day to reflect. To explore. To learn. To honor the best in humanity that overcame the worst. To remember compassion. Kindness. Courage.”
I remember the day that changed me forever. I was working the midnight shift at the St. Louis City Holdover. I got off work at 7:00 am CST and went to sleep. Shortly after that, my ex-girlfriend started calling me repeatedly, but I kept sending her to voicemail.
After the fourth or fifth call, I finally answered the phone. My ex was frantic and she said, “Get up and turn on your T.V.”
“What? No. I’m sleeping,” I said.
“Just do it,” she said.
“I don’t want to watch T.V. I’m trying to sleep.”
“We’re under attack!” she screamed.
I jumped up and turned on the T.V. The first Tower had already been hit, but not the second.
I said, “We’re not under attack. A plane just flew into a building. There’s got to be some kind of explanation. I’m going back to bed.”
I hung up the phone and turned it off so no one else could wake up.
When I woke up, I turned on my phone and had about 20 messages. I could tell without even turning on the T.V. yet, that the whole world had changed. Forever.