September 11, 2001
Disbelief

Like everyone else in the United States, and in most of the world, I am just numbed by today’s events.

I teach 5th grade and didn't even hear about it until 10:45 this morning when another teacher told me about the tragedy.

I then went into a personal panic as my brother was in DC and was supposed to be either at the Pentagon or the Capitol. He is a civilian who runs the media for the Army out of Natick Labs (where they develop space food, etc. Any of the posters you see for the army are generally photos that he has taken), he was unexpectedly called to DC on Sunday morning.



Of course, I couldn't get to a phone to call, and the school had made a decision not to tell the kids anything (there are about 450 4th and 5th graders in my building), so we couldn't turn on the TV or radio and were keeping the kids off the Internet as well. It was thought that a tragedy such as this should be explained by parents, then we can be there for further support tomorrow once the kids come back to school.

Even if I had been able to make a call I don’t think that I would have, as I knew my mother was going to be home worrying, and that my sister-in-law would be trying to keep the phone lines open to so she could get news.

Fortunately my mother had the presence of mind to call the school to let me know that my brother was OK once he had called home. But that wasn’t until 1:15, so I had spent lots of time worrying, but trying to pretend nothing was wrong in front of the kids.

I don't know any of the details of where he was at the time of the attack, but he has a car and is driving back to Boston, via Albany.



Now my worries are with my NYC friends that I haven't heard from.

My heart is breaking for all those who have perished or who have lost loved ones. It reminds me of all the other tragedies this country has suffered, OKC, the Challenger (that one was tough for me as I knew Christa McCauliffe), but it also makes me glad that if I live in this wonderful country where people rally and come together as one. All differences are set aside and we stand united.



My prayers with all who have been touched by this terrible day.








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