Sam's Blog

Link: http://www.roccodeluca.com/

Most of our parents knew where they were when they found out that JFK was assassinated. They remember that exact moment in time. What they were doing. Who they were with. We joked that the only memorable thing in our time was remembering where you were when the OJ verdict was read (I was in drafting class, designing my future home). But I would never imagine something so serious would replace that. Now it is our generation's turn to remember. Although unfortunately, most of our parents were still alive five years ago to witness the attacks on the World Trade Center and they too will remember. Where were you five years ago today?

I remember that day like a dream. I had just finished Orientation a few days earlier and I was in my apartment that I was subletting from Denise. I was searching for an apartment for the upcoming school year (my senior year) with Nate and we hadn't found anything by then. I was planning to sleep in that day. I was woken up by Denise in the morning (she and I knew each other through work but we weren't too close) and I was wondering why she would wake me up so early. She told me about the attacks and we were watching footage on TV. I was half asleep. I don't think I fully comprehended what was going on. It felt like I was still in a dream. I saw the Today Show clips and thought to myself - who do I know in NY? I only knew 2 people at that point and I wasn't too close to them either. I felt so detached. I went back to bed at this point. It was too much to take in. I slept for what felt like forever and I woke up about an hour later. I got up and thought everything was a dream. Denise was still there glued to the TV. She probably thought I was very heartless for going back to sleep. I sat there and watched news coverage for hours, taking it all in. It was overwhelming. I called those I knew in NY and thankfully they were okay. My sister told me about one of our family friends that worked across the street from the WTC and she assured me that she was okay. Thank goodness. I could breathe again. All I can feel was sadness, grief, helplessness and guilt. I wanted to help but didn't know how. I knew people were slowly dying and I couldn't help. I was all the way in LA and all I can feel was sadness. I hated that they got away with it and I hated that they hated us. I knew that we weren't the best or most liked country in the world, but this showed the world that we were definitely HATED. It was an awful day.

I almost cried on the way to work this morning while listening to NPR and hearing from the families of victims. I couldn't handle it. I still am very sad every year on this day. I will never forget it. I talked to a lot of my NY counterparts at work and heard their experiences and stories about that day. Our main office is in Times Square and it was chaos everywhere that day. I can't even imagine. I just hope something like this never happens again. But with the world the way it is today - we can't be too sure and that thought absolutely terrifies me. So today, I mourn in my own private way and I know that I will never forget. I just hope that we do something good to prevent this from happening again all over the world. We need peace soon.