9-11

10 years have passed since September 11, 2001.... that is still so hard for me to believe. That day still forever be etched in my memory. I even remember what I had on that day. I was in my sophomore year at UK. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning. I got up and went to my 8AM SOC 342 class with my strange professor. After class I walked with Ali back to her dorm and then I headed to my car which was parked in K-Lot. Everything seemed normal. Students were rushing to class. I got in my car and started to drive to Stein Mart because I was scheduled to work 10-6 that day. I got into my car about 9:30ish and headed down Alumni towards New Circle. I turned on the radio and it was not my usual morning show... it was a news broadcast. I figured my tuner had been switched to AM, but it hadn't. I remember hearing something about the World Trade Center, but at this point I still didn't understand what was going on.

I was stopped at the stoplight at Alumni and New Circle. Then I heard something on the radio about a plane hitting the Pentagon. I was confused. The light turned green. No cars moved. We were all frozen listening to our radios... trying to make sense of what was happening. After a few seconds, which in the moment seemed much longer... we drove. I pulled in the parking lot of Stein Mart. I was still confused. What was going on?

I walked in the store and headed to the back. Everyone was crowded around the TV in the break room. My manager was crying. It was then I realized what exactly had happened. I shed a few tears. Then I watched as the first tower collapsed. We were all crying at this point.

I had to go up and open the store at this point it was after 10AM. I remember opening my register. I called Andy, then I called my parents and then I called my roommates. I didn't want to be at work. I wanted to be at home with family and friends. I wanted to be watching the news. I wanted to know what was going on. I wanted everything to make sense.

No one shopped that day. Possibly my slowest day at Stein Mart ever. Those who did come in wanted to talk about it. My manager sent me home early. thanks. I went back to the apartment where my friends were all hanging out together. We all watched the coverage together and then we celebrated Molly's 20th birthday. It was so good to be surrounded by friends on this day.

I remember watching the news the next few weeks, the stories of survival, the heroes of flight 93, the firefighters who were risking their lives. Somehow these stories seemed to make things better... to see people loving one another.

I still don't exactly understand what happened that day or why it happened. I do know that it forever changed our country. It is a day I will never forget and a day I will soon share more about to my children.

God Bless our country and God Bless all the service men and women who defend it each day. We are blessed to live here.