9/11

It's hard to believe that seven years ago today we had the worst attack on our great nation. I can remember that day vividly. I got up early that morning to play golf with a buddy of mine. The attacks hadn't even started and I remember turning on the TV and seeing images of President Bush smiling as he was about to visit a school. As I got into the car and started driving towards the golf course I was listening to Howard Stern and it was then when I got my first account of what was happening that day. As I listened to Howard and the rest of his crew explain the events that were unfolding I soon realized this wasn't a joke by Howard and his crew, it soon became obvious that it was much more and Howard Stern went from media giant to humbled reporter. I finally got to the golf course only knowing that one of the towers had been hit. As I walked into the clubhouse to meet my buddy he was with the several other golfers who were glued to the TV and the images that were being shown. We all stood there in amazement and just when we thought it couldn't get any worse the second plane crashed into the other tower and we all knew then that this was something different, that this wasn't an accident, it was an attack. I can still see that plane crashing into the second tower and thinking to myself those poor people they never had a chance. We all stood there for a long time, some called their families, some called their friends, I called my wife and told her I would be home soon. I drove home an hour later, I couldn't tear myself away from the screen. As I drove home I listened to the news reports and it became more and more obvious that we were under attack. I got home and my wife and I stayed glued to the TV all day. I remember thinking back to that image of President Bush smiling as he read to the school kids and then his aide coming in to tell him the news and his face went from enjoyment to pale and gaunt. You can say what you want about President Bush but that day and the days after he was the rock America needed. He really stood up and let it be known we were going to fight back and find who did this, of course times are different now but at that time he really did step up and helped America through the attacks. I know I didn't sleep at all that night. I stayed up and watched everything unfold. I remember the next day a lot of companies and schools closed down. It was an eerie feeling. It was also a heightened sense of terror and the feeling of not knowing what was going to happen next. The next few days were difficult to watch especially for the families who lost someone in the attacks. I know that I will remember that week for the rest of my life. It's just hard to believe that we are now seven years later and how much our country has changed. I know I keep bringing it up but that image of President Bush smiling before going into that classroom says a lot about the country before the attacks. I mean if you think about it, the day before the attacks happened our country was in a good place and just seeing the President smiling like that gave you a sense of America is doing pretty well today, but unfortunately it changed later that day and yes it has gotten better but it will never be the same as it was that morning.