%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 Whispers, warmth, and the things that could make life glow. |
| This is Blogging Month at Bards Hall: 10 x in June "The Bard's Hall Contest" StephBee  and 𝓦𝓦 is Mr.MONK  Ninth Entry June 11, 2026  Just Before the World Changed  Sometimes a vacation becomes memorable because of where you go. Sometimes it becomes memorable because of what happens after you come home. In early September of 2001, my husband and I took my parents to Disney World in Florida. They had never been there before, and we thought it would be fun to share the experience with them. My parents drove down from North Carolina while David and I flew from Maryland. We met in Orlando, and they picked us up at the airport. From there we headed to Kissimmee, where we had rented a large condominium with two master suites. It was perfect for the four of us. The weather was hot, even by Florida standards, but we had a wonderful time. We purchased our park tickets through the Navy base recreation office, and they gave us access to all the Disney parks for five days. That was more than enough Disney for me, although I enjoyed every minute of it. Like most vacations, it seemed to pass far too quickly. On September 10, David and I flew home. Our daughter met us at BWI Airport in Baltimore. While we were there, I stepped into a ladies’ restroom and noticed an abandoned purse sitting unattended. Without giving it much thought, I picked it up and turned it in to airport security. Today, if I saw an abandoned purse or bag in an airport, I would immediately notify security and leave it exactly where it was. But back then, finding a forgotten purse was not considered particularly alarming. It was simply something someone had left behind. The world was different. After leaving the airport, we took our daughter out for a birthday dinner and then drove her back to the university. From there, we made the two-hour drive home. The next morning, everything changed. David was at work, and I was at home. We were actually talking on the phone when the second airplane struck the World Trade Center. Like millions of Americans, I watched in disbelief as the events unfolded on television. One of the things that made it feel even more unreal was that one of the attackers had attended the same college I had. I remembered him as a quiet student. He often spent time with two other young men from his country. Never in a million years would I have imagined seeing his face connected to such a tragedy. The shock was overwhelming. I remember hearing fighter jets being scrambled overhead as military installations moved to protect American airspace. The sound of those aircraft was something I had never experienced before. It was a reminder that the nation was under attack and that no one knew what might happen next. Because of the situation, my husband was not allowed to leave base immediately. The installation went into lockdown, and personnel remained where they were until further instructions were given. I worried about him all day. When he finally walked through our door that evening, I felt an enormous sense of relief. It was one of those moments when you realize how much you take for granted in everyday life. My heart broke for the thousands of families who would never have that same relief. In the days, weeks, and months that followed, we witnessed extraordinary acts of courage and compassion. Firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, construction workers, military members, and countless volunteers stepped forward to help however they could. Many of those people later suffered health problems because of their service at the disaster sites, yet I suspect most would tell you they would make the same choice again. That tragedy revealed something important about the American people. During one of our darkest moments, we saw countless examples of generosity, sacrifice, and kindness. Neighbors helped neighbors. Strangers helped strangers. People gave what they could because it was needed. It has been many years since that September morning, but I still remember how quickly an ordinary day became a historic one. One day we were enjoying a family vacation at Disney World. The next day the world we knew changed forever. Word count: 684   |
un: 
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
View Community
Send Gift Points
Send Awardicon
Community Feed
Puzzle Hub
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Writings
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Sheets
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
Workspaces
