12 Years Ago

I cannot believe it's been 12 years since September 11, 2001.  I will never forget the day and I relive it in my mind every year at this time.

I wasn't married yet and was living at home with my parents.  I had a full time job at a pharmaceutical company inspecting the flu vaccine.  That Tuesday was my day off.  I woke up early, dressed and then went into the living room to watch some television.  My parents were still sleeping.  I was watching a show that was interupted by the announcement that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in NY.  Then another plane came and hit the second tower.  I was in complete shock.  Totally stunned and unsure of what was going on.  My dad woke up and entered the kitchen/family room area.  I told him what happened and he looked at me with wide eyes before going back into his bedroom to wake my mother.  They both came out and we sat and watched the TV.  We listened as President Bush gave the announcement that we had been attacked.  We also learned of the Pentagon being hit as well as a field in Pennsylvania.  What was going on?  We had no idea at the time.  Were there more planes coming?  Where would they hit?  Who was driving those planes?  What were they after?  Such a scary thing to have gone through.

My family lives on Long Island and we later learned that my sister's friend was working at the World Trade Center when this happened.  He didn't survive.  It becomes even more upsetting when there's a personal connection to the attack.  I also remember riding over the Verrazano Bridge on the way to Long Island and seeing both towers in the distance.  Since the attack the view hasn't been the same.  I refuse to look at the NY skyline anymore.

It was a terrible day.  Let's never forget it.