I remember…

It’s funny how the details of that day are so vivid to me. I can’t remember what I had for lunch to weeks ago, but 7 years ago I can tell you how long it took me to walk from my house to the bus stop. I remember the white t-shirt, the burgundy jeans, the white sneakers with the dye stains from the burgundy jeans, and the blue and tan book bag. I will never forget that day.
I was a just a freshman in high school. The day was going like any other Tuesday, small talk and note taking. 1st, 2nd and 3rd period passed. Then the bell for 4th period rang. English, my favorite class. I remember that I had a 100%. It may have been the last time I had a perfect score in any class. Ms. Gleason. That was her name. She had an easy Ellen DeGeneres swag about her, real lesbian chic. It was 4th period, English, Ms. Gleason, my 100%, and Ashley. She was my partner in crime. We sat back in the u-shaped structure of desk and watched and laughed like we always did. Still do. We laughed at the abusive couple right in front of us, (There is nothing funny about domestic violence), the girl who worshiped the devil, and the black boy with the horrible shoes and the white friends. It was Tuesday, 4th period, English, Ms. Gleason. Normal.
Then the intercom buzzed and the dry voice of our vice-principal rang bounced off of the cinder block walls. Then we tired to make sense of the voice, and watched as Ms. Gleason tried to reshape her lesson around something she didn’t even understand herself. Talk about a level playing field. We talked and talked until our conversation turned into fear and wanting to go home and see family members. Then the whispers from the ROTC kids about the Air Force Base, then chemical warfare and now we were too close to everything, figures Delaware in the mid point of everything important. SCARY SHIT! We sat there.
Teachers huddled in hallway, talking in whispered voices. WE had no answers, but we did get an early dismissal to run home and sit in front of the television to watch the crash, smoke, and debris over and over again.
I didn’t know what to think then and now sometimes still don’t know.
I just know that on days like this I’m an AMERICAN.
I remember today and take a moment of silence for those lives lost.

Living for today,
KD