People often ask me where I get ideas for my stories and articles. When in a writers’ group, every week brought new ideas for a story. If there was a significant world event happening, a writer’s take was asked for and the members wrote about it as a challenge. This last week ‘9/11’ was celebrated with a 15-year memorial. This is the article I wrote at the time of the attack when in the writers’ club.
“The image was very clear. People were running down the street with terror and disbelief in their eyes. A wall of dust and debris followed them. They look for an escape but are swallowed up by this big monster. A feeling of hopelessness and despair comes over me as I watch the events unfold before my eyes. This can not be true, can it? Yes, it is true. The commentary on the TV continued and told about planes hitting the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. The date is Tuesday, September 11, 2001, and America is under attack.
“My eyes remained glued to the TV. It is still hard to believe that this was really happening. Tears built up in my eyes. Who would do such a thing? Is there so much hatred in the world that innocent lives are destroyed? Are there people in this world so heartless and uncompassionate? Are we not civilized countries? How could this be true? Many unanswered questions went through my mind, but I continued to watch.
“My day was to be filled with many other things which I planned to do. Whatever I started, my eyes, ears and thoughts returned to what was happening on TV.
“By noon I felt drained and turned off the TV. The empty helpless feeling continued, similar to the day when I lost my best friend and companion, yet I did not know these people. The day continued with aimless activity from one part of my condo to another. Nothing was accomplished. The business letters were not written, the telephone call regarding a farm concern was not made, the ironing from Monday’s wash remained where it was the day before. I did not leave the place to go shopping for the items I needed.
“Time will pass. Days go by after the terrorized attack. There is a curtain of uncertainly in the world. What will happen next? How will this uncertainly affect my family, my friends, my country, and the world in the future? Time will tell, but I am sure things will never be the same,” I wrote on September 19, 2001.
How do you remember the attack?
