Where were you.....................
That question has been asked a lot today. Where were you when the Twin Towers went down? Where were you when the Pentagon was hit? Where were you when a plane full of brave and selfless people changed evil intent to sacrifice? I will never forget.
You see I was at the happiest place on earth. I was at Disneyland. It was our sons first trip, our first family fun vacation. We had spent 9/10 at the park the entire day. We watched the opening parade, the closing parade, the flag folding ceremony. This of course was surrounded by 1000's of screaming, happy children, mostly happy children, and their exhausted but satisfied parents. We were having a great time letting our son enjoy the fun of his favorite characters coming to life, hugging him, giving him the High Five. It was grand. We went to bed tired, but happy.
Then I woke up. I turned on the tv to see this really bad sight, and as I changed the channel it was suddenly clear this was not a movie. This was happening in front of my eyes, planes hitting buildings, imploding into dust and rubble, people running, screaming, dying before my eyes. This was no longer the happiest place on earth. It was a nightmare. My husband and I sat, frozen in front of the set wondering what we should do. LA had closed down. People were being sent home, roads and businesses closed or encouraged to do so. No public attractions were permitted to open. No public transportation was running. The planes stopped flying. It was as if the world stopped. In many ways it did.
Our son was fairly well entertained in the hotel. But what do we do, stay in LA a possible target or go home past a nuclear power plant, another possible target. Who were these people and what did they want? Information was streaming as facts and footage were released. It is emotional still, I can't stop crying when I see even a moment of the footage. It is still incomprehensible.
We stayed at the advise of my father, a decorated retired officer and former Pentagon Joint Chief of Staff member. In a hotel with no restaurant I walked across the street to the 7-11. We were all there, those of us stuck in LA waiting for some explanation, some sense to what was happening. No one really talked, a lot of shock, nodding, pained expressions. We had all been sitting in front of the tv waiting for our future to be defined. The parks were closed for the first time in their history. CLOSED, the happiest place on earth was closed.
By supper time Roy Rogers restaurant opened. We went to get a cooked meal. About a dozen people there. No one really knowing what we were doing, supposed to do. And we were across country. Roy Rogers was a restaurant we ate at in the 60's when I first went to Disneyland. It felt a little safe and I was glad to at least know a familiar spot. In the front of our thoughts was what about tomorrow, what will it be like tomorrow.
Since they were still advising no travel from a safety perspective, we decided to use the park ticket to fill some time. We were here and it was going to be open. So another first, they searched everything and everyone coming into the park. Babies, diaper bags, purses, strollers, everything. It had never been done in the history of Disneyland and California Adventure. And it was still quiet. No planes, low attendance, adults nodding, children being kids thankfully. No lines on the rides, no lines at the restaurants or gift stores. Odd in a million ways. What happened to our happiest place on earth?
It was changed. For us anyway, and I imagine the others who found themselves with a conflict between reality and fantasy. Despite the costumes and candies and thrill rides all around there was the reality that 2996+ died in most tragic and or heroic of circumstances. Families were going to be missing loved ones, empty chairs at their tables, no help with homework, no hugs at bedtime. How is that reconciled with the illusion of goodness at the theme park?
We were reminded that there are very bad people in the world, driven by evil. Their hearts are cold, their actions irrational, their motives warped by the lies they embrace. They have acted again and again with hate, taking innocent, defenseless, unarmed, non-challenging, happy lives. They are cowards, striking those not at war, but those who can't fight back.
There fortunately was a lot of goodness happening at ground zero, at the Pentagon, in Pennsylvania. There were lots of stories of very heroic actions, sacrifices, lives spared. There have been many who found a way to give, comfort, love. There have been many who chose action, military or public service. So many people gave so much, helped so much, shared so much. There was actually a moment of complete unity of spirit as a result of this horrible thing. It is one we need again.
So I remember exactly where I was when 9/11 happened. I remember the conflict and the emotion and the change that day brought for me and countless others. I know that each year we are reminded as are the families and friends still missing their loved one with the retelling of the attack on our beautiful country. They are changed. I know people who worked throughout the days following still see images and are changed. I hope that our country can regain that unity of spirit and purpose, that we could once again find that change.
Where were you when the world changed? Do you remember it?
You see I was at the happiest place on earth. I was at Disneyland. It was our sons first trip, our first family fun vacation. We had spent 9/10 at the park the entire day. We watched the opening parade, the closing parade, the flag folding ceremony. This of course was surrounded by 1000's of screaming, happy children, mostly happy children, and their exhausted but satisfied parents. We were having a great time letting our son enjoy the fun of his favorite characters coming to life, hugging him, giving him the High Five. It was grand. We went to bed tired, but happy.
Then I woke up. I turned on the tv to see this really bad sight, and as I changed the channel it was suddenly clear this was not a movie. This was happening in front of my eyes, planes hitting buildings, imploding into dust and rubble, people running, screaming, dying before my eyes. This was no longer the happiest place on earth. It was a nightmare. My husband and I sat, frozen in front of the set wondering what we should do. LA had closed down. People were being sent home, roads and businesses closed or encouraged to do so. No public attractions were permitted to open. No public transportation was running. The planes stopped flying. It was as if the world stopped. In many ways it did.
Our son was fairly well entertained in the hotel. But what do we do, stay in LA a possible target or go home past a nuclear power plant, another possible target. Who were these people and what did they want? Information was streaming as facts and footage were released. It is emotional still, I can't stop crying when I see even a moment of the footage. It is still incomprehensible.
We stayed at the advise of my father, a decorated retired officer and former Pentagon Joint Chief of Staff member. In a hotel with no restaurant I walked across the street to the 7-11. We were all there, those of us stuck in LA waiting for some explanation, some sense to what was happening. No one really talked, a lot of shock, nodding, pained expressions. We had all been sitting in front of the tv waiting for our future to be defined. The parks were closed for the first time in their history. CLOSED, the happiest place on earth was closed.
By supper time Roy Rogers restaurant opened. We went to get a cooked meal. About a dozen people there. No one really knowing what we were doing, supposed to do. And we were across country. Roy Rogers was a restaurant we ate at in the 60's when I first went to Disneyland. It felt a little safe and I was glad to at least know a familiar spot. In the front of our thoughts was what about tomorrow, what will it be like tomorrow.
Since they were still advising no travel from a safety perspective, we decided to use the park ticket to fill some time. We were here and it was going to be open. So another first, they searched everything and everyone coming into the park. Babies, diaper bags, purses, strollers, everything. It had never been done in the history of Disneyland and California Adventure. And it was still quiet. No planes, low attendance, adults nodding, children being kids thankfully. No lines on the rides, no lines at the restaurants or gift stores. Odd in a million ways. What happened to our happiest place on earth?
It was changed. For us anyway, and I imagine the others who found themselves with a conflict between reality and fantasy. Despite the costumes and candies and thrill rides all around there was the reality that 2996+ died in most tragic and or heroic of circumstances. Families were going to be missing loved ones, empty chairs at their tables, no help with homework, no hugs at bedtime. How is that reconciled with the illusion of goodness at the theme park?
We were reminded that there are very bad people in the world, driven by evil. Their hearts are cold, their actions irrational, their motives warped by the lies they embrace. They have acted again and again with hate, taking innocent, defenseless, unarmed, non-challenging, happy lives. They are cowards, striking those not at war, but those who can't fight back.
There fortunately was a lot of goodness happening at ground zero, at the Pentagon, in Pennsylvania. There were lots of stories of very heroic actions, sacrifices, lives spared. There have been many who found a way to give, comfort, love. There have been many who chose action, military or public service. So many people gave so much, helped so much, shared so much. There was actually a moment of complete unity of spirit as a result of this horrible thing. It is one we need again.
So I remember exactly where I was when 9/11 happened. I remember the conflict and the emotion and the change that day brought for me and countless others. I know that each year we are reminded as are the families and friends still missing their loved one with the retelling of the attack on our beautiful country. They are changed. I know people who worked throughout the days following still see images and are changed. I hope that our country can regain that unity of spirit and purpose, that we could once again find that change.
Where were you when the world changed? Do you remember it?
Comments
Post a Comment