Always Remember

Ten years ago today, I remember taking my daughter to her first day of kindergarten at the Children's School in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. It was a beautiful day. As I drove to school, I can see smoke coming from the World Trade Center. I turned on the radio to listen for news on what was happening. As I parked the car, I heard one of World Trade Center tower was on fire and that a small aircraft may have crashed into it. I thought this sounded unusual but didn't think anything of it. I was excited for my daughter's first day of school.

I remember being in my daughter's classroom which was located on the top floor of the school facing west.  The teachers have thoughtfully pulled down the window shades so the little ones are not distracted by the burning towers. The parents and teachers can clearly see the burning towers from the top of the large windows. The tiny smoke that I saw in the beginning of that morning is now a large billow of rising smoke. My thoughts are now engulfed in what is happening with the towers. To the teachers and parents credit, everyone remained calm and made sure that the first day of kindergarten stayed positive for the kids.

I remember the uneasy feeling I had when I left my daughter in school. My feelings were eerily confirmed as I witnessed the south tower was also burning. I knew at that moment that this was no accident and that something else bigger was happening. My thoughts turned to the people who are in the towers and the struggle they were going through.

I remember being at home and trying to find some hopeful news on the television. There was none. I called work to let them know that I was not coming in. I went up on the roof of our building to watch the burning towers. Debris and ashes were now falling into the neighborhood and into our backyard. There was a calmness around me juxtaposed with the turmoil of the burning towers. I remember the surrealism as I witnessed the south tower as it fell. I remember fearing for the safety of my family.

I remember driving to the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge to pick up my brother-in-law. He was working in Wall Street and my sister was worried sick about his safety. I remember seeing the scores of people covered with soot and dust from the felled towers calmly walking away from the calamity.