September 11

I remember often hearing my parent's generation talking about remembering exactly where they were or what they were doing when Kennedy was assassinated. I find myself in exactly the same situation with the September 11th tragedy - perhaps the largest tragedy of my generation.

I was in my 3rd year of college, and, as was my typical routine, I was sitting at my studio desk working before classes began. It was a Tuesday, I believe - I had the most boring class in the world called "Parameters in Design" beginning at 9:30, so I would usually get to studio by 7:30 or 8 and work until class. Well, it must have been a few minutes before 9 when a kid ran over to my desk asking if I had my radio on - he had heard that one of the World Trade Center towers was "on fire." I think my batteries were dead, so I went over to the computer room and began to follow the events. My friend Tricia soon showed up, I filled her in as much as possible, and we walked over to the lecture hall for class, where our other friend Matt came in around 9:30.

The hall was partially filled, and CNN was being played continuously on the large screen at the front. For the next 3-4 hours, hundreds of us sat there in silence to receive news of more planes falling, the buildings tumbling, and the tragic after-effects. I remember my professor standing up around 10 and stating that he felt his lecture had no relevance in light of the events, and that they would continue to play CNN for as long as we desired to stay and watch. It was well after noon before we decided to leave - it was too much for some to continue to watch.

I can't remember what we did that afternoon, though I'm pretty sure it was time spent between close friends just being close friends. I will never forget the details of that morning and what happened, and I hope you don't either.