Do you remember?

Do you remember where you were September 11, 2001? My husband and I were talking about how 9/11 has become our generation's Pearl Harbor. I would imagine most remember where they were and how that fateful day played out.

I was in my first week of college, on my way to my freshman block class. We had started class when one of my classmates came in late shouting something had crashed into the world trade center. At that point, our theories ranged from helicopters or small single engine planes accidentally knicking the top of it. My second professor for block came in awhile later giving us more details and told us there was going to be a meeting in the chapel at 10. We all ran back to our dorms to check it out for ourselves. I was in a suite with 3 other girls. We all started numbingly at the screen as we saw both towers on fire. Then the reports began to fly in that this was no accident and we were under attack. We headed to the chapel for information and prayer service. The college shut down for the day, and we were asked to stay on campus until more details were known. Not a problem since we were all fixed to our tv's anyway. As the planes crashed into the pentagon and in Shanksville, I began to panick thinking I was 2 hours from home, still getting used to the whole independence college thing. I was scared. I was scared of who was going to be hit next. It seemd like the rest of the morning was just filled with anxiousness as we almost anticipated which city or landmark was going to get hit next. I remember crying out loud when the towers began to fall. I had been to NYC many times on missions trips and had stood atop those towers. I knew how many people could be affected, it just ached my heart. As the day came to a close, we realized that our lives had changed a lot here in America. My classmates and I learned very fast as college freshman that we were adults now, and we had to grow up pretty fast. One of my friends was deployed later on to Iraq. Life and freedom was no longer taken for granted. It was the theme of my freshman year. 9/11 was often a part of the conversation that year around the dining commons tables and classroom discussions.

I can't believe it has been 7 years. I hope that healing has occured in the families who lost loved ones. I believe healing has occured in our country, but that we often forget that honeymoon phase of solidarity and unity that closely followed the attacks. Do you remember? Do you remember where you were 7 years ago today?