Remember, remember...

Ten years ago I was 11 years old. I had just started Jr. high, and I was embarking on a new chapter in my life. I was excited for the future. That Tuesday morning in September looked like any other. I woke up early for school, but right away I could tell something was off. I could hear my parents talking anxiously in the other room, and the T.V. was on. They were watching the news. I went into the room where they were and stared at the screen, groggy, tired and confused. They kept saying the same thing, "It's the towers. They crashed into the Twin Towers." I didn't know much about the World Trade Center at the time, except that it was the tallest structure in the world. I was so young. I thought that wars were only fought by soldiers, I just couldn't grasp the idea of hurting innocent people for no reason.

At school during the morning announcements our principle was solemn as he talked about the tragedy and we held a moment of silence. It was all anyone could talk about for the rest of the day. My friends and I exchanged theories on why we thought it had happened. The air around us was full of confusion and fear.

Ten years have passed and I still can't read or watch anything about that day without crying. As I was doing my history homework today, I flipped to the back few pages and read an unemotional account about the attacks. Even though it's written in my textbook, it doesn't feel like history to me. People are still recovering, still missing their loved ones, our nation still anxious. I've heard many people say that they remember everything about that day. What they were doing, where they were,what was said to them. It's all a blur to me, and I remember only a few things. What I do remember is how everything felt. It was strange and different, and even at my young age I knew life for many Americans was going to change drastically. Some people were confused, many people sad and hurt, most people afraid, and every single person angry.

I found an old t-shirt from my childhood a few weeks ago. It has a picture of the New York City skyline at night, with the World Trade Center right in the middle. Many things crossed my mind when I found it. I thought about that day, and remembered that the 10 year anniversary was quickly approaching. It's hard to believe it's been so long, when it feels like it just happened. Our nation was affected in so many different ways that day, and a little girl from California learned a very harsh lesson about the realities of our world. My thoughts go out to every person who lost a loved one. To the people who risked their lives to save others, and those who continue to. To the people whose lives were stolen from them. This day is for you. We will never forget.