Posts
Once I'm awake and in 'going to work' mode, I get so preoccupied that I, seldom, take time to notice the day. That day, I remember. As I drove up Germantown Avenue, I rolled the window down and thought to myself that this was really just a gorgeous day. I can't say I felt any sense of something about to happen, none of that. Just a small thought, then I let my mind go on to the day ahead and all of the things that needed to be done.
Around ten I had my prep hour, and I walked up towards the office. One of the other teachers was walking out just as I got to the door, and she looked sort of strange. I thought she was coming down with a flu bug or something, 'How's it going/" She looked at me, looked through me, and said, 'Someone just attacked the World Trade Center'
You know, when things really get bad, I don't comprehend too well. I just keep thinking that I must have misunderstood, that this can't be happening. And that's what happened then. I did not comprehend the magnitude of what Bonnie had said. 'Attack' and 'World Trade Center' did not belong in a sentence together.
After that, things get blurry. We just walked through the next hour or so , following the normal routine. Our principal came on the intercom. She told us to take our kids to the lunch room and have them given their lunches: a hot pack, a cold pack and a milk. She was thinking, I'm sure, that heaven only knew when they might be getting another meal. Then, the walkers were to be released, the bus kids escorted to the buses , and everyone sent home. . Once the students were safely out of the building, the teachers would be dismissed. .
None of us looked into each other's faces as we went through the motions, keeping our game faces on. We knew that something awful had happened, something beyond comprehension. But, it wasn't the 'what had happened' that was scaring the wits out of me, it was the 'what's next?' We didn't know who had done this. We did not know what else were they going to do. By that time, we'd heard that the Pentagon was a target--I can't remember if it'd had been hit yet or not. So, was Philly next? And if Philly was next, were would they strike? Would they blow up the 30th Street Station? One of the bridges? We were lining our kids up and putting them on buses with absolutely no idea what was coming.
That year, I was teaching low-incidence kids--the sped term for very low functioning students with many attendant health problems. It can be heart breaking , gut wrenching work. But here's the thing: Children who have some of the most devastating disabilities can, also, be the most loving, non-judgmental little beings on the planet. Every morning, as they get off the bus, it's big smiles and hugs all around. At the end of the day, it's the same thing. Their love is unconditional, absolute, unequivocal.
That year, I had this one little boy who was just the epitome of that sort of attitude. Every morning, he would move his desk right up beside my desk. If I put it back to where I thought it belonged, he'd wait a minute til I was busy and move it to where he thought it belonged. In the end, I just gave up and left it there, right by my desk. As we walked from the cafeteria , heading towards the buses, he took my hand and looked up and smiled at me. I helped him put his lunch into his bright red book bag and pointed him towards the bus. His arms went around my waist, and he said, 'I love you teacher. See you tomorrow' ,turned and got onto the bus.
See what I mean? My story is so small. Of course, the sun came up in Philadelphia. A week later, we all went back to school. I met the bus, got my morning hug, and the world began to spin again. Still, when I think of that day, I get , as I said, the heeby jeebies all over again.
Then, I slap myself, give thanks for my blessings and send prayers to those who lost loved ones on that day.
I've used this picture before, but it is one of my favorites. It reminds me of the men and women who have given their all for the rest of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment