Blogging Friends.... Question. What event in history has undoubtedly
had an impact on your entire Life and therefore effected the person that you
are today? For me? It was Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. No, I did not lose
anybody who I knew personally in that horrific tragedy. I don't have any familiar
names, pictures or faces that I remember every year like many do. I actually
reside thousands of miles away from where the World Trade Center was located!! However.
I was seventeen years old--young, clueless, naive and living in "La-la
Land"--I'd never paid any attention to a breaking news story none
whatsoever. My little world felt safe. Secure. Sheltered. But Tuesday,
September 11th, 2001 changed all of that. Oh, those terrorist attacks did shake
me, wake me.... And break me emotionally. I was much too young for such a cruel
Reality check. As resulted? Let's just say that I greatly mishandled this
tragedy emotionally. However. That is why I'm so resilient and move on as fast
as I do!! I have since read about 9-11 victims' loved ones' real, still raw, vulnerable
losses. Which--I believe--explains my odd interest, understanding, and
compassion toward grief!! So.... I guess I can safely say that not only has
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 had an impact on me. But it's changed my Life!! I
would then spend the following year afterward dealing with complex thoughts,
feelings and emotions in the only way that I know how. Writing!! I composed several
poems--Little Miss Perfectionist says that they all suck--but each and every
one were very therapeutic!! This.... Is a 9-11-themed story. It's loosely based
on my poem--entitled "America's Heroes"--that I composed
approximately three days after turning eighteen. This story is entirely
fictional. Love you later.
I had a plan. And it
was a good one!! I planned to post this fictional story yesterday. However. In between editing, editing, and editing this story, plus dancing to Bruce Springsteen's 9-11-inspired album, "The
Rising" I ran out of time!! Ah well. My plans always change, anyway!! Bruce's album, "The Rising". It is--in my opinion--very, very, very good!! I highly
recommend that any fellow Bruce lovers--er, fanatics!!--who read/follow my Blog listen to it!! Bring your tissues. Feel everything. Oh, and smile!!
Because, yes, Bruce even makes an emotional 9-11-inspired album fun!!
Confession. I danced to
"The Rising", like, three times while creating this
fictional story!! Hey, an artist must find her inspiration somewhere!!
Right?! That being mentioned? Bruce's song, "Into The Fire"
from "The Rising" definitely inspired this fictional
story!! Aw.... Thanks, Bruce!!
"Honor's Ultimate Sacrifice"
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. It began just like any other pre-Autumn
morning in Manhattan, New York. The leaves on trees were turning brilliant hues
of yellow, orange and red. Parents drove their children to various different schools.
Dog owners took multiple canines on walks. Men and women drove to work in the
twin towers of the World Trade Center. Beautiful blue skies hovered over that borough. New York City firefighters dutifully awaited for their alarm to
sound, urgently calling them toward dangerous situations. Tuesday, September
11th, 2001. It began just like any other pre-Autumn day all around the world
and America. Pilots prepared their flight destinations.
And passengers boarded airplanes. Just as they always do, flight attendants
prepared themselves for their jobs.
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. No parent, no dog owner, no office
worker, no pilot, no flight attendant, no passenger, no firefighter, no cop, no
American, no citizen of New York City--not anybody--could have ever predicted
the tragedy which would unfold that pre-Autumn morning. For on Tuesday,
September 11th, 2001, terrorists boarded twain airplanes, hijacked those doomed
jetliners, crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and--as
resulted--they murdered over 2,000 innocent people. It was simply an
unthinkable attack against America. For no parent, no dog owner, no office
worker, no pilot, no flight attendant, no passenger, no firefighter, no cop, no
citizen of New York City--not anybody--could have ever predicted that--as
resulted--the twain 110-story tall twin towers would collapse to dusty,
blood-stained, rubble.
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. Viviana began that unforgettable, historical
morning just like any other weekday. She awoke early at the annoying sound of
her clock's alarm as it blared nonstop. As usual, Viviana's husband, Robert,
had already left hours ago for his job. She read in bed before reluctantly working
out on an exercise bike. Viviana then took a relaxing shower and got dressed. Glancing
at her watch, she wolfed down an incredibly quick breakfast of Honey Nut
Cheerios before driving to work at the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. New York City fireman, Honor, began that
unforgettable, historical morning just like any other weekday. He read the newspaper
to keep himself informed with yesterday's events. Surrounded by his fellow
firemen--named Triumph, Patriot, Noble, Justice and Courage--Honor ate homemade,
cheesy, sausage omelets for breakfast.
"Mmmm!!" said
Triumph, "This is one tasty
sausage omelet!!"
"I agree!!" said
Noble, "It is spicy.... Just loaded with sausage!!"
"And it is very cheesy!!"
said Justice, "Well done, Patriot!!"
"Wait a minute,"
said Courage, "You mean that Patriot--the
practical jokester and prank-playing one among us--didn't throw in some additional spices this time around just to burn all of our taste buds?!"
Courage would not even take one
bite.
"Nope!!" said
Honor, "He did not. This sausage omelet is really delicious!! It's maybe even one of Patriot's best so far!! Trust us!! It is good!!"
Courage timidly took a bite of the cheesy, sausage omelet.
"Wow!!" he
exclaimed with his mouth still full, "I stand corrected. This is one tasty sausage omelet!!"
"Thank-you!!"
said Patriot in a cocky, I-know-it-is manner, "Now pass me some orange
juice!!"
However. After just one
sip of his orange juice, Patriot's face turned sour and he did a spit take!!
"Whoa!!" protested Patriot, "This is not orange
juice!! There's a lemon taste to it!!
Who did this?!"
And then Honor unintentionally
gave himself away!! By smirking!! For
he never did have a very good poker
face!!
After breakfast, Honor ran treadmills and lifted weights alongside
his fellow firefighters. Then he took a relaxing shower before awaiting the
alarm to sound, urgently calling them toward dangerous situations.
And on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001--tragically--it did.
"There has been an American
Airlines jet that's just crashed
into the North Tower of the World Trade
Center...." their radio
dispatcher, Liberty, announced at 8:46 AM.
She mentioned its address,
but neither Honor, Triumph, Patriot, Noble, Justice or Courage listened. For they very well already knew where the North Tower of the World
Trade Center was located!!
"Wait. What?!"
exclaimed Honor, with shock in his voice, "An airplane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center?! A
jetliner?!"
"Yes," Liberty urgently said, "You boys had better hurry!!"
But Honor, Triumph, Patriot, Noble, Justice and Courage were already in their bright red fire engines
driving, its sirens wailing!! Within a nanosecond, they arrived at the scene!!
Honor could literally feel his heart
stop beating at what he was witnessing. Black smoke billowed out of the North
tower and freely rose against Manhattan, New York's flawless, beautiful, clear, blue skies. Honor swallowed hard. Complex thoughts, feelings and emotions immediately overwhelmed him.
"Oh.... My...." said Honor.
"This is bad,"
said Courage with panic in his voice, "I mean. This is really,
really, really bad!! A jetliner crash. An incredibly tall tower. Heaven only knows how many people we will need to rescue!! Oh, this is so bad!!
How on Earth will we even rescue all of these poor people?!"
"By putting our training to the ultimate test," said Honor, "Your name is 'Courage'. Now live up to it!! Let's go, let's go,
let's go!! We do not have any time to
lose!!"
Honor, Triumph, Patriot, Noble, Justice and Courage hurriedly exited
their fire engine. They bravely ran toward the North Tower of the World Trade
Center. However. Before either of them even arrived, at 9:03 AM, they witnessed
yet another jetliner as it crashed
into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
"Oh my gosh!!"
shouted Patriot.
"There has been a United
Airlines jet that's just crashed
into the South Tower of the World Trade
Center," said their radio dispatcher, Liberty, "Which you very
well already know. I am sorry for stating the obvious. I'm just doing my job."
"Thank-you, Liberty!!" said Honor.
Soon, several other fire engines, ambulances and paramedics arrived
at the scene. For they had been urgently called toward this dangerous
circumstance as well. And neither Honor, Triumph, Patriot, Noble, Justice--not
even Courage--thought twice about
what to do!! Perhaps it was an instinct.
Or years of continual training. Perhaps
it was a selfless desire to help everyone who had found themselves trapped
in the 110-story tall towers. Either way? Honor, Triumph, Patriot, Noble,
Justice and Courage heroically stepped foot into the burning towers!!
With such a daunting task
ahead, they split up. Triumph, Noble,
Justice and Patriot were assigned the North
Tower of the World Trade Center. Which was an order that they obediently heeded!! Into the flaming,
smoky, unstable tower, Triumph, Noble, Justice and Patriot entered!! Up its stairs--floor, after floor, after floor--they
marched, searching for survivors!! Because
on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, this was
their calling!! Honor and Courage were assigned the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Which was an order that they
obediently heeded!! Into the flaming,
smoky, unstable tower, Honor and Courage entered!!
Up its stairs--floor, after floor, after floor--they marched, searching for survivors!! Because on
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, this was
their calling!!
Honor found a terrified Viviana
trapped inside her office cubicle beneath scorching, hot, fallen rubble. She
was badly injured. There were third
degree burns on her arms, legs and face. As resulted, Viviana's skin was
peeling off. Her arms, legs and face were bleeding. Bruises had quickly began
to cover those specific bodily areas. She repeatedly gasped for breath, as the air around her was unbearable. And yet? Viviana had used up what little physical energy that
she had left to weep.
Will I live
through this....? she thought, Things are not
looking very positive for me....!! Even if I do live through this, my burns
will eventually heal up and serve as ugly, unwanted, permanent scars....
Reminders that I did survive this.... Oh.... Reminders that I have
literally lived up to the meaning of my name being 'alive'.... I know this
Reality all too well, because Robby works at a burn unit.... Oh my.... Robby!!
I have to survive this hell so that I can be back in my husband's loving arms!! I
just have to!! We never even said goodbye....
Then Viviana saw Honor!!
"Help...." she
somehow managed to say, "Mister Fireman.... Help me.... Please...."
And help Viviana, Honor
did!!
"Relax," he calmly said, "I am going to get you out of here!! I promise!!"
Honor strapped an oxygen mask onto Viviana's face. With twain strong, muscular arms, he lifted rubble off of her body. To their
terror, the tower then shifted a
little. Viviana screamed through her
oxygen mask. Honor gasped.
Instinctively, he lifted Viviana up
out of her office cubicle and slowly--yet
quickly--carried her toward safety.
But this proved to be a harrowing, daunting task. Because with
nearly every single unsteady step,
the tower shifted some more. Viviana clung tight to Honor's body.
"Hang on!!" he said, "I am going to get you out of here, honey!! Alright? I promise!!"
Taking an
elevator down is definitely not a possibility considering this situation, thought Honor, I will have to use the stairs.
And step, by step, by unstable step--while still carrying Viviana--Honor did just that. Although there were countless
challenges along the way. Scorching, hot debris repeatedly flew in Honor's and Viviana's direction. The tower shifted some more several times. Its
stairs were extremely unsteady. But
step, by step, by step--as Courage followed
closely behind--Honor miraculously fulfilled
his promise to Viviana and carried
her out of the tower!! She was safe!!
Honor gently lay Viviana's body onto a
stretcher and the paramedics wheeled her away. No words were spoken between
them. Viviana's ambulance was headed toward a local burn unit.
Meanwhile, Robert had frantically
and helplessly left work immediately after hearing on a television news
station that jetliners crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Meanwhile, he was waiting impatiently outside
with authorities, hoping beyond hope
that his lover would be alright.
"Viv!!" said a
relieved Robert, "Thank God!!
You are alive!! Oh, I am so glad!!"
If Robert noticed Viviana's third degree burns? He never let it show emotionally!!
"Robby...."
Viviana somehow managed to say beneath her oxygen mask.
Naturally, Robert attempted to run
toward his lover, but he was stopped
by an authority.
"Do not go to her!!"
ordered Paul, "Stay here!! It is
far too dangerous!! Do you personally
know of any other friend or loved one
who were in the towers?"
"No sir," said Robert, "Just my wife!!"
"Then, for your own
safety, vacate these premises," ordered Paul,
"Go home!!"
But before Robert could
leave--while Honor bravely marched
toward the still-shifting South Tower
of the World Trade Center--it suddenly collapsed
to nothing but dust, rubble and human bloodshed.
As resulted, everybody screamed. Then
Viviana saw with her own two eyes the
tower fall and completely bury Honor.
"Mister.... Fireman!!"
she somehow managed to say beneath her oxygen mask.
"Honor!!" yelled
Courage, "Oh, no, no, no, no!! Honor!!"
Time seemingly stood
still. Courage bravely ran toward the
tower's wreckage. His twain strong
hands quickly dug and dug and dug
through scorching, hot rubble until at last he unburied Honor!! Still lying
on the stretcher, Viviana watched everything
unfold with her own two eyes. Honor
just lie there in filthy, dusty,
debris, completely motionless. His
black-colored firefighter clothes were burned
from the helmet down to both boots. Honor was barely alive and hardly breathing. Courage attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or C.P.R., on his fellow fireman. But,
sadly, it was for naught. Courage strapped an oxygen mask onto
Honor's face. But, sadly, it was for naught, as well. Wet, hot tears streamed down Courage's face. Viviana's
heart skipped a beat. For they both knew that Honor was dying.
The paramedics gently
lifted his body onto a stretcher and wheeled him away. Coincidentally? Honor's
ambulance was the exact same vehicle
as Viviana's. For beneath those protective
firefighter clothes, his body had also
sustained some minor burns. And dying or not, the paramedics were,
of course, determined to save Honor's Life!! Their ambulance hurriedly sped away. But just as it did, the still-shifting North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed to nothing but dust, rubble
and human bloodshed.
"Triumph!! Noble!! Justice!! Patriot!!"
yelled Courage, as he was bravely digging
deep through debris where the now-destructed South Tower once stood in
an effort to find even more survivors. "Oh.... Please do not let me be the lone survivor in our fire department!! Triumph!! Noble!! Justice!! Patriot!! Oh no, no, no!!"
It took everything in
Courage's willpower to not abandon
his post at the South Tower's wreckage so that he could successfully save Triumph,
Noble, Justice and Patriot!! However. He reluctantly
remained at his post and kept
digging. But then.... Triumph, Noble, Justice and Patriot miraculously emerged from the North Tower's
wreckage--very much alive!!--each
carrying a survivor!! Courage suddenly
felt an incredible sense of relief wash over him!!
"Triumph!! Noble!! Justice!! Patriot!!"
he said, "Thank God you are all alive!!"
Meanwhile.... Inside the ambulance, Viviana had a one-on-one
opportunity to thank Honor for
rescuing her.
"You...." she somehow managed to say, "Honor.... You.... Saved.... My Life!! And.... Now.... You.... Are dying....?! How.... Could.... You....
Risk everything.... For.... Me?!"
Wet, hot tears streamed down
Viviana's cheeks.
"It...." Honor somehow managed to say, "Is....
What.... I do."
"Why...." Viviana
somehow managed to say, "When.... You....
Were.... So brave.... Will.... Your heroism.... Lead.... You.... To.... Your grave?"
Honor did not have the physical or mental energy to answer Viviana's
profound query. For his pulse was growing weaker and weaker.
Honor's breathing became shallow. He
was quickly slipping away right in
front of Viviana's very eyes.
"Thank-you...."
she somehow managed to say, "So....
Much.... You're.... My hero!!"
Then Honor inhaled his last breath.
He was dead.
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. It was a morning when the strong force of hatred commanded terrorists' minds and agendas. Tuesday, September
11th, 2001. It was a morning when terrorists attacked America. Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. It was a morning
when terrorists hijacked jetliners
into the twin towers of the World Trade
Center. Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. It was a morning when both World Trade Center towers collapsed to ground zero. Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. It was a morning when thousands of innocent people died.... Including 343 firefighters.
Although Viviana had a long,
tedious journey ahead of her, she did survive
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001!! Because with Robert's loving, patient, understanding encouragement and countless therapy sessions? Viviana was eventually able to view her burn scars as not ugly
or unwanted reminders that she lived
through such a horrific nightmare.
But the absolute opposite. Viviana
can now look at her permanent burn
scars as beautiful!! Because she is alive {Just like the meaning of her name!!} and Viviana is eternally grateful for Honor's ultimate sacrifice!!