I’m Thankful
By Kelsey Saunders
September 11, 2001 was a sad time for everyone, especially me. My mom was in Virginia because her brother’s wife (Aunt Anne) had to fly out on a business trip that was scheduled last minute, while Aunt Anne’s mother was staying with her and my uncle in Virginia. My uncle wanted some help taking care of my aunt’s mother, so my mom flew in to help. The plane my mother was on didn’t crash and my mother was safe and sound.
My day started out like any other. I went to first grade at Mabel I Wilson and didn’t know anything had happened, that is until I got home. My dad was anything but happy. He didn’t speak for awhile until he thought I should know. He told me about the plane crash.
“It crashed into the Twin Towers,” he explained,
“the place where your brother works.” I felt awful. I was so sad it was unbearable. I ran into another room, took a few steps, fell onto the floor, and cried. I cried so much that red streaks formed going down my face. My mom was still in Virginia and my dad was too torn to comfort me. I was in that position for hours until we got two phone calls that changed our lives.
The first one was from my brother. He was alive and safe. My dad started crying tears of joy. It turns out he had a day off from work. I hugged everything in sight. From plants, to pillows, to arms of chairs until we got the second phone call.
My aunt was dead. Aunt Anne died in the plane that crashed into the Twin Towers. I was devastated and I felt so alone. Why did this happen to me? It could have happened to anyone on earth and it happened to me. Was this supposed to happen? Was this supposed to show me to be grateful for the things I have, like my brother? Yet, even though my brother was alive, I was still crying my eyes out.
A few years later I found a program on television that had kids talking about this experience.
“I think it’s so sad that so many people died,” said one girl. I wanted to take off my shoe and throw it at her and yell, “You don’t know the meaning of sad!” Who would we be, though, if we chucked shoes at people every time they said something that made us sad or offended us? I thought about that and decided that I shouldn’t be mad or angry about 9/11, but that I should be thankful. I should be thankful that my brother was not harmed and I should be thankful that my mom was there with my uncle during his hardest times.
My mom stayed down in Virginia longer than expected to go to my aunt’s funeral and because there were not a lot of planes flying out of any airports any time soon.
The one thing I learned from this experience is that I had my aunt in my life and I will always remember her.