Where Were You…

 

   That time of year is coming up again i’m afraid. That fateful September day that most of the world will never forget, myself included. i’ve decided to recount that day here. Writing it down for posterities sake i suppose and to just give all a glimpse of what my life was like during that tragic time in history.

   i remember being at my friend Kathy’s house the night before. i often stayed the night with her and just hung out and what not to be brought home the next day. i stayed up all night that night and ended up being taken home by her husband on his way to work the next morning. 

   i walked into the house and my Mother was awake at like 9 am. Something that NEVER happens. So i paused in the bedroom door and she was on the phone. Confused i sort of gave her a look like “What are you doing?” and she pointed to the tv with a look of horror on her face. i turned and looked over my shoulder behind me just as the second tower was hit by the plane.

   With wide eyes i watched for a time, complete baffled by what i had seen. i had no clue what was going on and soon went into the living room and turned on the tv there. Still having had no sleep i watched for a bit. Completely aghast at the situation. The apparent tragedy that had befallen our nation. Those poor people in the towers and their families. So very many families broken and forever changed because of this act.

   i remember calling my friend Ronnetta cause i knew she’d be awake and at work that early in the morning and talking to her for a bit. i remember saying it was like Independence Day (the movie) without the aliens. Just so out there and outrageous that it was baffling.

   After a time exhaustion got the better of me. my Mother had left to go do something at the church and my father was still working as a custodian for a local elementary school then. So i crashed out on the couch. Until the phone rang…

   It was 1:16 pm in the afternoon when i answered the call from my Aunt Cathie. She was rather upset and immediately i went on high alert. She proceeded to tearfully explain to me that my Grandma Ruby had passed away an hour or so before and would i please inform my parents.

   i was shocked. Not in the way you might think because my Grandma was ill with pancreatic cancer and her liver was shutting down. Just shell-shocked i suppose. A bit numb. So i called my Mom and got ahold of her having to tell her that her Mother had passed away. i was still calm and held it together beautifully. She had to get off the phone and call others and my cousin Jenny had been at the church to tell her as well because Jenny worked in the town where the church was and was close by.

   It was not until i called my Father. For some reason as i told him what happened i simply broke down. Maybe it is because as much as we argued when i hit teenage years i was always Daddy’s Little Girl and just hearing him in that dreadful moment broke the seal on my emotions.

   i then remember having to call my sister (who was an absolute basketcase and has never been all that stable emotionally) and then had to walk up the street and tell my brother because he had no phone.

   Most of the time after that is disjointed. i remember watching some of the news specials about the Towers and what not. i remember going to Subway with my parents for dinner on the way to my Aunt and Uncle’s house. i remember coming home and just sort of getting through the evening. i remember being outside on my front porch and my ex-sister-in-law coming over to offer her condolences.

   i remember my cousin Jenny coming by that night. And i remember leaving with her. i remember going and riding down back roads and just sort of letting it all sink in. Doing what we always did on back roads. *chuckles* We smoked a bowl. (weed for those of you who might not know) and i remember there being a car behind us a one point. i had my hand out the window with the bowl in it because it was really hot and there was a car behind us for a long time. we came up to a stop sign and there was a lil off rampy thing to the right that the car behind us took, and it ended up being a State Patrol car. LOL

   i tell you this last lil bit because my cousin Jenny said “That was Grandma Ruby watchin out for us.” *chuckles* Oh the memories.

   At any rate, as awful as i know September 11th was for the nation, and as much as i grieve for those people and those families. September 11th for me was overshadowed by the loss of a woman who always had fried bacon on her kitchen table whatever the time of day. Who gave us little baggies with candy and 5 dollars in it every Halloween. By the passing of a woman who was surly and rotten sometimes for no real reason, but loving and giving and loads of fun with her beehive hairdo and her big brownish gold Buick (which she drove with no license her whole life). For me it was combined with the passing of a woman who hosted Christmas every year on Christmas eve and had so many presents 5 ft deep around the tree for the family she adored. A woman i loved more than i can ever tell you. i love you Grandma Ruby and i wish with all that i have inside of me that you could have been here to see my babies and how beautiful they are. Hope you’re having a grand time in heaven. XOXO

   So i ask you to stop and think…where were you when the world stopped turning that September day? Remember your loved ones. Cherish them. And never let them leave your sight without letting them know that you love them.