This day always makes me cry

September 11th will forever remain a day to cry on and not writing about it would be un-American. (If that's even a word). It's weird to say that ten years ago this all happened, because to everyone who was sitting somewhere having a perfectly normal day that day, only to have it rocked and shaken, it still remains as vivid as ever. 

We get thrown right back into that moment each and every time. We can remember what we wore (I can tell you right now I was rocking some pretty awesome glow in the dark sneakers), where we were, and the minutes, hours, and days that continued afterwards.

I was only 12 at the time, which seems crazy. How can a twelve year old even try to comprehend what was going on? As a 22 year old, I can barely keep my cool about it.

I was sitting in health class when the PA system came on, my principal solemnly telling us the news. And I'm going to be completely honest here. When he said that the World Trade Center had been hit, I didn't even know what that was. It was only after my health teacher said "twin towers" did I even begin to picture a place, a moment. 

Since I was young, none of my teachers showed us the news, which means I had to wait until I got home that day to see the devastation and our antennae wasn't working that well. I lived about three hours north of New York City and apparently some of our news coverage got beamed out by the antennae on top of the towers. To this day, I can't watch coverage without crying. I remember being obsessed with a collector's book about the events of the tragedy that my grandmother kept in her living room. Every time I visited her small house in Florida, I read it front to back. 

I don't know why I love to pore over news about that day and I'm sure I'm not alone. There's a great exhibit in The New York State Museum in Albany with newspaper clippings and some objects that were damaged. My friends always told me they didn't like it because they couldn't handle it. But the artifacts and the firetruck just make it seem that much more real, not something I only saw on television.

Courtesy of Sam Spratt Illustration

I don't think there will ever be a day where I can forget that. And I'm thankful no one I knew was hurt. But to those people whose families were ripped apart, you inspire me. Your courage after such a day will always be remembered.

Meg Cabot always posts this entry every year, which is so moving and I think you should all check it out.

-Sarah