Thinking back to 9/11

I never spoke about my memories of September 11th. I think it's important that I do, so I don't forget. Since this is my site, I'll write about what I want.

I had a bad feeling on 9/11 in the morning. I remember before the attacks that day being outside for gym class. What I remember most is seeing all of these planes overhead. It was before the attack had happened, but something seemed odd to me about the amount of planes in the sky. For some strange reason I noticed all of the planes that morning.

Stamford, where I grew up, and still consider to be and always be my hometown since it's where I was born and raised, is only about forty-five minutes from New York City. Trains go in to the city often too, although I don't normally take the trains.

Anyway, I was sitting in Math class and we were talking about probability when our Principal at Turn of River Middle School Rodney Bass came on to the loud speakers and said. "Two small planes have just hit the World Trade Center." At the time I don't think that we were told it was a terrorist attack because I vividly remember Eric Demaio saying "Well what are the chances of two planes hitting the World Trade Center."

I also remember our Social Studies teacher at the time saying something infamous. He stated that this attack wouldn't really change anything for our country. He was wrong, although a great teacher. I remember sitting in his class and hearing military jets roaring over our head. That was scary, because unless it's a rare event for a National Holiday we never see or hear military jets overhead.

As the day went on things got more surreal. While we were exchanging classes we heard about the Pentagon being hit. During lunch which ever students were still left (because many classmates went home early that day) began thinking about what place might be attacked next. Then we heard about the plane that went down in Pennsylvania.

After school I had an orthodontist appointment. I didn't want to go. I ran half a mile home from the bus and wanted to see the news. My dad was home early and had it on. I tried to argue with my mom about getting out of the orthodontist appointment, but I lost that battle.

In the end my Uncle lost six of his parishioners in Wilton. He said several funerals. One of our former neighbors whose son I had been friends with passed away, as did another one of his relatives. My sister's friends father also passed away. It was impossible to be from Stamford and not know someone who knew someone who was effected by that day.

I remember going with my father to my first Mets game after the attack and looked to the right off of the Whitestone Bridge and saw for the first time in my life that those two towers were gone. I remember getting to Shea Stadium and saw the place covered with fliers of missing people. It was extremely sad, because I knew that everyone who was missing was dead.