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911 I remember: I woke up this morning. I woke up at 8am and I rolled over again. No class until 11. Alarm at quarter after nine. :~: Nine thirty in the morning, all is quiet on the hall, most kids long gone to class. An away message on AOL Instant Messenger advises it's viewer to turn on the news. The dorm atmosphere, indeed, most over all of campus, betrays nothing of the brewing chaos. :~: On my way to eleven am class after an hour glued to CNN, I see a man carrying a low-slung automatic rifle pointed at the ground and am relieved before noting that it is really a leaf blower and his khakis are not camoflage. :~: In lecture the professor announces the tragedy with a curt, "in case you haven't heard..." followed by a summary of the events and a concluding, '...but we have class." The lecture hall before him bled down to the few of us who have come to class at a time such as this. :~: At high noon it is standing room only in the student union food court, faces turned towards the heavens in hopes that the television will provide some answers, comfort. The video footage is on a loop, over and over again playing the crash. Mouths gape and gasp. The questions remain. :~: Late afternoon in my quad, coming back from class I see a student has hung a large American flag from his window near the top of the eight story high rise. Fluttering loosely in the wind, it catches the golden light of the setting sun. I note it and smile somberly. :~: A spontaneous candelight vigil draws over a thousand freshmen and sophomore residents to the open field between two quads of high rise dorms. One after the other the students speak. One went to school four blocks from the towers. Another had a cousin at the point of impact in the Pentagon. Still others are waiting for word on loved ones and many, many worry for those in the military and the possible impending declaration of War. Tears flow openly from all as a bagpipe player sounds out a slow version of "Amazing Grace". Above the stars look down, and silent military planes circle high overhead. :~: Tonight is the first cold night of the season. |
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