My 9/11

The radio said that a plane had flown into one of the twin towers in New York.  I thought – some little plane piloted by a crazy person  - but when I turned on the TV it was pretty clear.

I called my daughter, Susan.  She turned on her TV.  We stayed on the phone the whole morning except for when she made a quick call to her boy friend (later her husband).  We cried and shared the experience.

I kept picturing what those people in the planes had thought and felt as they approached the building.

When they reported the flight had gone down in Pennsylvania I was horrified at first and then very proud.  We were fighting back in the only way we could.

That evening there were two great big BOOMS.  The radio reported that a plane had flown into the veterans cemetery.  Now they are bombing our dead veterans? 

Eventually it was decided the booms were sonic booms.  A plane had broken the sound barrier over our area.  I should have recognized the sound but it had been a long time since I had heard it. 

My guess was it was the escort for the president’s plane heading for Washington.  I also think they were flying a route that passed over military bases, like Wright Pat.

Later in the day I heard from my friend, Jeanne.  She and I had made plans to set up to sell our antiques and collectibles at the Springfield monthly show on the coming week-end. 

We had paid the fees and chosen our site.  Should we still go?  Would anyone be there?  We left it a question for a day or so.

On Sept. 12 I was to baby-sit my four year old grandson.  His Mother and I decided he should not watch much TV as they kept showing the twin towers being hit and collapsing over and over. 

I let him watch it once and then turned it off.  We talked about it.  He came up with the idea that we needed a super hero like batman or superman.  I agreed but wondered how we would know he was a super hero if we found him. 

He gave me one of those “adults are stupid” looks and informed me that he would have a cape!  (awww 4 year olds) We decided the president needed a cape. 

He helped package his cape up and send it to the White House.  He dictated a letter to go with it.  He eventually got a letter from the president thanking him. 

Of course, then he was without his cape so he magically received one from the American Cape Co. (grandma).

Jeanne and I decided to go set up at the antique show.  If people showed up someone should be there for them to see.  We always stayed in the RV during the show.

I took a tiny black and white TV along and we watched it outside after the show closed.  Other dealers clustered around it to watch the news.

I think it was Friday when we first saw a plane in the air and everyone was pointing at it.  It was probably an Airforce plane since Wright Patterson AFB is very close.

We didn’t make any profit that week-end.  There weren’t many customers and the ones who came were very quiet and solemn.  We sold out the few flags we had and people asked where I had gotten the bunting that I always hang on the front of the RV.

The newspaper printed a full page flag and people taped them in their front window. 

There are people in this world who hate us, they don’t want what we have, they just want to destroy it and us.  They don’t want freedom, they want to destroy ours.

There are citizens of our own country who think we need to destroy our political system.  They think they can do a better job.  Gun sales are up.  I have no problem with that – I own a few guns myself. 

Will our system survive?  Maybe – maybe not.  But I think we will fight to the end to preserve it.  At least lets hope so.

Later….