Living in a Historical Moment

   Living in a Historical Moment

Suzanne Marsh

History has a way of not seeming to be history. 9/11 is such an event for me. I did not think of it as a historical event I thought of it as a day so full of sadness and hate, courage and fortitude. I remember that morning very well, my husband and I were in San Antonio, Texas. He is a trucker driver and while he was busy with the truck, I found myself in the C store staring at two televisions bringing the first moments of the terrorist attack on the United States. I jokingly asked: “who did we blow up this time/” Until I saw the horror unfolding before. The Twin Towers were crumbing down for the impact of two passenger jets plowing into them. I stood like everyone else my mouth open, my eyes wide with the look of: “how can this be happening, here in the United States. It happens in other countries but not here.” Well, it was happening, here right in front of my eyes. Tears began to form in my eyes as I realized the United States was being attacked. Were we going to war? What would happen next? The biggest question was why? Why were we being attacked. Yes, the United States had enemies but who would be that bold as to attack us on our own soil?

The towers imploded as I watched, suddenly I thought about my cousin who still lived in New York City, was she safe? The thoughts of that morning ran rampart through my mind. The destruction was hard to imagine. We had been in the New York, New Jersey area so many times. We had seen the twin towers from where we delivered. How could something so horrible be happening right here in front of me? My husband came to let me know that truck repair was complete, and it was time to leave. I sputtered about wanting to see what was going to happen next; however, we were due to deliver in Dallas that afternoon, so we had to get a move on. The freight had to move.

Later that night we watched in horror as the Pentagon took a hit and the plane in Pennsylvania. We had recently been by the area where that plane went down. I thought of all those passengers and all those people who lost their lives that day. I still had no idea if my cousin was safe or what was happening next. This was something I could tell my grandchildren about, certainly. Had I just been a witness to something so horrible? History has a way of visiting all of us whether we realize it or not. This terrible blow would follow me for quite a while.

Sooner or later the question would be where were you on 9/11? I did not have to wait to long before my grandchildren began to ask questions.

“Hey Grandma, where were you on 9/11” A question I did no welcome. I replied:”

“Grandpa and I were in San Antonio, Texas on that day waiting for the truck to be repaired.”

“Grandma what do you remember?”

“I remember watching the Twin Towers falling; Grandpa and I had seen them only two weeks before

When we delivered there. Now they are part of history, a part I hope will never be repeated.”

“Grandma, what was it like standing that store and watching the TV.”

“At first, I was surprised and thought it rather strange that two passenger planes would hit the twin

towers. Then I began to feel overwhelmed about the scope of the entire situation. This did not

happen in the United States, we were supposed to be secure. Terrorists did this sort of thing in

other countries not our United States. I remember standing there watching over and over again

the twin towers collapsing. The coverage was not that good because it just kept repeating what

we already knew had happened. Then when a plane went down in a Pennsylvania field and another

hit the Pentagon, things began to become frightening. Fear began to take hold of me as I watched.

“Grandma, what did Grandpa say?”

“He had heard bits and pieces waiting for the truck to be finished. We had to be in Dallas at

five o’clock in the afternoon. I protested that I wanted to watch more, but we had to get the

load to the receiver. We listened to the radio for a few minutes.

“Grandma, what did you think when you saw the destruction of the twin towers.”

“That is a good question. I am not sure exactly what I felt; a cross between sorrow and disbelief,

at least at first. Then anger set it. We were supposed to be so well protected, safe and secure.

Those were things I did not feel any longer. I really hoped and prayed along with everyone

else that they would catch the terrorists. They should be put on trial, by due process of law they

would be found guilty and hung. That did not exactly happen but then again, they never do.”

“Grandma, what about the people inside those towers?’

“There were 2,977 people who lost their lives that day, of those 2, 753 were killed in the

World Trade Center, 184 at the Pentagon and 40 in Pennsylvania that day. What was on

television the next you had a chance to wash the news?”

“I remember watching television that night with Grandpa, after we stopped for the night.”

“I thought my heart would break as they pulled people out of the rubble. I remember seeing

smoke coming from the World Trade Center. Rescue teams risking their lives to get

as many bodies out. The barking of rescue dogs. The funerals for the firefighters were

the worst. I watched the first one several days later. I remember the lone piper as

he played Amazing Grace. Will I ever forget 9/11? I don’t think so. Not because

I witnessed history but because so many people lost their lives that day. I wonder in

years to come if people will even remember that day.”

My grandson watched me closely for several moments:

“Grandma, do you really think that people would forget something so terrible?”

“Yes, because we will forget, we are vulnerable we will talk again when you are twenty.”

Fifteen years later I received a phone call from my grandson; after the pleasantries he got to the point:

“Grandma do you still think people have forgotten 9/11?”

“Yes, I do. Think about it. We go about our everyday lives; we remember 9/11 one day year.

Ask yourself this question:

“Can we defend ourselves against terrorists. Yes, they caught Osma Bin Ladin but there were so

many cells I don’t think they will ever find all of them. I don’t live in fear, but I think we

the people should have learned that those we thought were our friends were our enemies.”

“Grandma, I joined the army I think you are right.”

“I am sure you will do justice to the uniform. Good luck. I love you.”

The phone call ended then; but it made me wonder if our country has forgotten, we take so many things for granted including our freedom. I hope and pray that we once again become we the people.