An anniversary I’d rather not remember:
It was a year ago today. I remember. It was a morning that I couldn’t shake the fog outta my brain. Even when our resident EMT said a bushad flipped off the interstate, it didn’t register. Then I heard it was my school. Life became overly clear. I had to go. Even though I wasn’t working there anymore…I had to.
It’s been a year, but it still makes my heart stop to think about it.
Monday, November 20, 2006
I didn’t want to know
I left work around 10:45. Couldn’t be at work if my kids were hurting. I was at Lee until after 3:00. I didn’t want to know any names. I didn’t want to hear any details. I just wanted to help then think later. The faculty at Lee was amazing. About 75% of the school was checked out in about 4 hours. The school was in upheaval. I just wanted to help. What I did was unimportant. I just became part of the machine. I worked…and hugged. There were people from the board of education helping. Teachers from Lee’s sister schools. 2 ex principals. Parents. ex-teachers. counselors. Students.I knew them…some maybe by face alone. Some by name. Yes, I knew the one’s who have passed. they were not my magnet bunch, but they were still my kids. I had one in a class for about 2 minutes last year. I remember. Christine, Nicole, and Tenisha. I remember.
I came home…and cried, alot. I can’t imagine what is going on in those families. I can’t imagine what is going on with the students who were friends. I just can’t.
The school has been through so much since then. My seniors have graduated. I’m about to be a dad. But in my mind, time stands still when I think about that day. Say a prayer for the families and victims. If it hits me this hard a year later…I can’t imagine what they go through daily.
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