September 11

Like I’m sure all of you – I can still remember, as if it were yesterday, exactly where I was on the morning of Sept 11, 2001.
We were living in Huntington on Long Island, NY at the time (about an hours drive out from NYCity). I was in my car; Sara in the car seat in the back – she was only 3 at the time. Elise was at school – having just started 1st grade. Leon was at work. I first heard of the attic on the radio – the stations thinking it was perhaps a prank. When I arrived at my destination we were all huddled around the computers and TVs. Then realizing it was no prank. We watched in horror as the first tower collapsed – not believing what we were seeing. I suddenly remembered that Leon’s brother worked for Bank of America on the 88th floor of one of the towers. Oh God! I was finally able to reach Leon – cell service had been very spotty. He had not been able to reach his brother.
Then the second tower collapsed. This had to be a dream – a nightmare actually.
Then good news – as it was the first day of school for Leon’s brother’s daughter, he had taken her to school that morning and was not in the city. Thank you God! But then it really hit me. Not all those other families would be so lucky. I had this urge to be at home with my family. We had heard from the school that they had not mentioned anything to the students and they would be bused home as usual. Sara and I headed home and would meet Leon there.
We sat fixed on the TV. Watching in horror as the events were replayed over and over. Watching the faces of those involved, and calling around to friends and family making sure everyone was OK. Elise arrived home at 3:30. How do you tell a 6 year old that the world as we knew it would never be the same.
An image I will never forget, actually occurred 2 days later. Sara had woken earlier than usual with a croupy cough – a common occurrence for her! As we had done in the past I took her in my arms, opened the sliding door and carried her outside to breathe some cool air. But then I was hit with this awful smell – the smell of smoke – from a fire. This isn’t possible I thought. We are 50 miles away from NY CIty and the smell from the burning buildings had made its way out here. What on earth must it be like at Ground Zero?…..
So here we are 10 years later, and I am living in a muslim country. As the anniversary of this horrific event approached, many of us Americans here wondered what it would be like. Just as we had done 10 years ago, we sat in front of the TV and watched the American channels’ broadcast of the anniversary events. But the most interesting thing that happened was what occurred at the girl’s school that day. One aspect of life here that we love is the mix of cultures. This became quite apparent on the anniversary of Sept. 11. In Elise’s World History class, the students had an open discussion on the event itself. THey talked about where they had all been on that day. What struck her as interesting was the fact that those students who weren’t American didn’t find the anniversary that important. “It was just one day”.. one of them said. Other tragic events had happened to other countries that had spanned months even years. “In Palestine this is what it’s like everyday”…said another friend. Even many Facebook status’ that day were negative saying that America was making a big deal about the anniversary. Sara’s friend, again only 3 at the time and living in Mexico, actually didn’t understand what the big deal was…
I hadn’t really thought about what other people around the world thought about this event. I was a bit angry and defensive I must admit. But I tried to put myself in their shoes and understand their perspectives. It will still be a major event in our lives and something that we will always remember and talk about.