I was 5, I think, when the attacks happened. I lived in north west Pennsylvania, and still do. At the time of the attacks I was at my grandparents’. I don’t remember much, the only recollection I have was seeing a brief minute of the news, then the phone went off. My mom had called and told my grandmother to keep me away from the TV. Though it was too late, and I was moved into the guest room where I played with toys. My mother told me her side last year. They were building something at our house, not sure what.. My other grandfather, my mom’s dad. We have family who live down in Johnstown and Pittsburgh, which is within 150 miles of where flight 175 went down. The next December when we were driving down for the Christmas party in Pittsburgh, we drove around the bend that we always had. When you turn this bend you see the Pittsburgh skyline. I asked, in my innocence, “Where are the burning buildings?”
That is what my 9/11 was. I’m 16 now, and this event speaks to me in so many ways.. The feels are too much to handle.
A few years later, in 2006, I think it was, we went on vacation to NYC. Even though at the time I was only 10 or so, I nearly cried at the Ground Zero memorial.. This was at ~10, I couldn’t imagine my reaction now.