I’ve started to notice as I age, that I don’t remember things as well as I used to remember. It could be a conversation that I had just a short 30 minutes ago, or what I had for lunch yesterday, either way I seem to forget things a lot quicker than I did in my 20’s and 30’s.
But one day I will never forget is 9/11/2001. It was a day my life forever changed, and when I started to see the world for what it really is in reality. I was stationed at Scott AFB, IL, and was on my morning break outside when the news hit. Immediately thereafter, the base went on lockdown and all support teams were activated. I was on the Blood Donor center team, and my job was to help prepare units after they were drawn from the patients. Our team sprang into action, and over 16 hours later we had collected and prepared around 100 units of blood for both the victims and the first responders. That part of the day was a blur, and we honestly didn’t have time to really register what happened that morning and later in to the day.
But when I got home, reality hit. I was a single Mom at the time, and my roommate was watching my daughter who was only 2 years old at the time. Since the base was on lockdown and I lived ON the base, I invited all of my friends to come to my house to stay. We were all exhausted both physically and mentally and seeing the HUMVEES driving through the base only caused a higher level of fear. So we did what that group did best, and we hunkered down on my dilapidated couch, and held each other and cried watching the news. Seeing the bodies fall from the sky is a vision that I will never erase from my memory, along with the close knit family I had when I was in the military. While the day was a tragic day to say the least, I am so glad I had these people to share it with. My brothers and sisters in arms will forever be my family.
Often while I tend to forget the irrelevant things in life, moments like these will never be forgotten.
Movin' it with Michelle 