...in the Zanzibar household. The children were puttering around the house, my wife was puttering around the kitchen.
We had just finished breakfast, and I had finished gathering up all the little things that they needed to take with them for that day.
I remember standing in my bedroom, reviewing my list in my head. I was in good shape. I was a bit ahead off my usual routine.
As happens so many times in my life, a thought appeared in my head that was a bit out of the normal. Nothing dramatic, just "Everything is all set to go, and I am early. Let's see what is on the news this morning".
I turned on the television. There on my screen, was an image of the World Trade Center. One of the towers looked like it was on fire. Tickers were running across the bottom of the screen, but I did not understand what it was I was looking at.
Then, as I was trying to make out what as going on, the camera on the TV moved focus, locking on to a airliner. I didn't understand why this was significant, so I watched.
I just watched as that airliner flew straight into the second tower.
Stunned is the only word I can think of to describe what I felt at that moment. Questions running through my head..What just happened? Why did that airliner just do that? and a thousand other questions.
I called my wife into the room, and told her what I just witnessed. She looked at the TV, then looked back at me with wide eyes, and I saw all the questions that she had run through her face.
From that point on, I was just numb. I was working at home full time at that time, so I spent the day keeping the TV on, listening to all the reports coming in. I felt like a zombie, just walking around, not really doing much, just trying to process all that I was seeing and hearing.
It is easy to say that day had a profound affect on me. I think that is a given.
You read about days like that day in history books, but there is something different about actually experiencing it, in each of our own personal ways.
I did not have anybody in my immediate family, or immediate circle of friends, that were killed on that day. But in my own way, I consider everybody as part of my extended family. I try and treat all that I meet and know, as if they were part of that extended family. So I did lose people that day, even though I had no idea who they were.
Did the events of that day change my life significantly? I don't think so. It may have clarified a few things, but my life is not significantly different now as it was on September 10th, 2001.
And for that, I would like to send out a monstrous thank you, to all the men and women who serve in our military.
Whether you think the actions overseas are warranted or not, it is THESE people, these VOLUNTEERS, that protect my way of life, and your way of life.
They literally "put their lives on the line" every day, so that we may have our "morning routines" and our "family traditions".
If you know someone who is currently serving, or has served in the military, please..today...Tell them that Aldwyn Zanzibar says "Thank you".
If YOU have served, or are serving...
THANK YOU!
May all of your sacrifices, not be made in vain.
We had just finished breakfast, and I had finished gathering up all the little things that they needed to take with them for that day.
I remember standing in my bedroom, reviewing my list in my head. I was in good shape. I was a bit ahead off my usual routine.
As happens so many times in my life, a thought appeared in my head that was a bit out of the normal. Nothing dramatic, just "Everything is all set to go, and I am early. Let's see what is on the news this morning".
I turned on the television. There on my screen, was an image of the World Trade Center. One of the towers looked like it was on fire. Tickers were running across the bottom of the screen, but I did not understand what it was I was looking at.
Then, as I was trying to make out what as going on, the camera on the TV moved focus, locking on to a airliner. I didn't understand why this was significant, so I watched.
I just watched as that airliner flew straight into the second tower.
Stunned is the only word I can think of to describe what I felt at that moment. Questions running through my head..What just happened? Why did that airliner just do that? and a thousand other questions.
I called my wife into the room, and told her what I just witnessed. She looked at the TV, then looked back at me with wide eyes, and I saw all the questions that she had run through her face.
From that point on, I was just numb. I was working at home full time at that time, so I spent the day keeping the TV on, listening to all the reports coming in. I felt like a zombie, just walking around, not really doing much, just trying to process all that I was seeing and hearing.
It is easy to say that day had a profound affect on me. I think that is a given.
You read about days like that day in history books, but there is something different about actually experiencing it, in each of our own personal ways.
I did not have anybody in my immediate family, or immediate circle of friends, that were killed on that day. But in my own way, I consider everybody as part of my extended family. I try and treat all that I meet and know, as if they were part of that extended family. So I did lose people that day, even though I had no idea who they were.
Did the events of that day change my life significantly? I don't think so. It may have clarified a few things, but my life is not significantly different now as it was on September 10th, 2001.
And for that, I would like to send out a monstrous thank you, to all the men and women who serve in our military.
Whether you think the actions overseas are warranted or not, it is THESE people, these VOLUNTEERS, that protect my way of life, and your way of life.
They literally "put their lives on the line" every day, so that we may have our "morning routines" and our "family traditions".
If you know someone who is currently serving, or has served in the military, please..today...Tell them that Aldwyn Zanzibar says "Thank you".
If YOU have served, or are serving...
THANK YOU!
May all of your sacrifices, not be made in vain.
