11 September 2007

Some Things You Never Forget

There are some things I know I will never forget.

I will never forget listening to the O.J. Simpson verdict in the 5th grade.

I will never forget hearing in Rexburg that Princess Diana died.

And I will never forget hearing about the attacks of September 11, 2001 as reported by Rick Dees In The Morning as I rode in the car with Robyn from seminary to high school.

In Mrs. Switzer's journalism class we brushed the news aside (thinking it was just an unfortunate plane crash) so we could continue learning about how to make our school newspaper less "bubbly," or the difference between libel and slander.

In Mr. Pence's physiology room, we listened to the news on AM radio. It could've been in his class that we learned of the second plane hitting the other tower. At that point we knew it was more than mere coincidence.

The rest of the day was a blur.

I remember feeling comforted knowing that a special meeting had been called in the tabernacle.

I remember watching CNN, Fox News, and the BBC for the latest updates, and I remember flipping through all the channels and seeing that from channel 3 to 73 (except for Nickelodeon), all regular programming had been cancelled to air continuous coverage of the monumentally life-changing news.

And I remember how even in California we knew people that had barely escaped tragedy's path. Josh flew out of Boston that same morning (see here), and Matt and Corey would've been in one of the towers had it been open to tourists.

As a country we all felt vulnerable to other attacks.

In the weeks that followed, I learned that anthrax is more than a castle from Monte Python.

I kind of wish that we all remembered a little better the events of that day.

And that we still all flew our flags every day and took them down with care every night.

It was a terrible, terrible day, but it sure did make us better people and unite us as a nation...

for a month or so.

9 comments:

Kimberly said...

Nice tribute! I can picture exactly where I was and what I was doing that day like it was yesterday!

Christie said...

That is so true. There was nothing like the feeling those first few weeks after...flags flying everywhere. People being kind to one another. In Boston, the police were talking about how the crime had gone down some huge percentage, too. Sad that we can't always live like that. Loved this post. Very succinct.

Unknown said...

I was home getting ready to leave on my mission. Mom woke me up and told me I had to come watch the news. Then I went and picked you up from Seminary and watched the news for the rest of the day. You're such a good writer!

Diane said...

Reading your post brings back all those memories. I remember seeing the flag flown everywhere and feeling so united with every American. I remember crying each time I saw a group of people standing on a street corner waving flags and lighting candles. Six years have gone by, and we do remember...I hope we never forget!
Loved your post. Thank you.

Crowther said...

There are definitely things that are edged into our memories forever. The empty Manhattan Streets and the Erie feeling that came with it.

Aimee said...

Nice Tribute, it gave me chills!

Grandma Hand said...

Michael, I loved your tribute. It is so sad that people forget what really happened. I get chills when I see the American flag flying. I cried when the towers collapsed. In Sandy they have what they call the Healing Field and there are hundreds of flags put together in this field. I want us to be united as a country and not be split. I remember having my TV on and they switched to the news and I was glued to it all day. You should be a journalist because you have such a way with words.

Mandy said...

Wow! You are a great writer! I remember every moment that day too! When my alarm went off...they said there had been a plane crash...I just thought it was sad and went back to sleep. My mom called later to tell me to turn on the tv! I love how (mostly) our country is more patriotic and I love to see the flags flying...we really are blessed to live here!

Mandy said...

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