# Chateau de la Tobler

## Monday, January 30, 2006

### RE: Challenger and 9/11

Since I was approximately one and three-fourths years old at the time of the Challenger explosion, I really couldn't tell you where I was. Probably wherever Momma was, though. I doubt that I was very far from her. I can, however, tell you exactly where I was when I first heard about the attacks on 9/11. I was in my early bird Anatomy class at Clark. I was the only person in the classroom because school didn't start for another 10 minutes and nobody in their right mind shows up for an early bird class any earlier than is absolutely necessary (unless they have Seminary before that, of course). The Valedictorian of our graduating class came in about five minutes before the bell rang and said "I think we should all just go back home." I said "Why?" She turned to look at me incredulously. "The Pentagon and the Twin Towers in New York are under attack." It took me completely by surprise. And after that, we didn't get any more information because our principal decided to ignore the fact that the nation had been put under high alert and wouldn't allow any teachers to discuss what was happening, not even in the history and government classes. I raced home afterward to watch the news with Momma, listening to the radio the whole way home. The thing that struck me the most that day was how completely empty all the streets were. A drive that normally took me around 25 minutes to make took me little more than 10 that day. It was amazing. Now I know what people mean when they talk about where they were when JFK was shot and the Challenger blew up. You never do forget that sort of thing.

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