On September 10, 2001, I along with many other parents and teachers headed to Oklahoma to chaperone my daughter's 5th grade class for a week of camp. There was so much anticipation for that day and that morning was full of laughter, smiles and excitement....CAMP.....FUN....OUTDOOR SCHOOL! Happiness is how I would describe it.
The next day, of course, the terrible tragedy of 9-11. The decision was made to stay at camp but not tell the students about the horror the nation was witnessing.
The last night we were there, we celebrated with a bonfire and smores. It was a beautiful night...the sky was full of stars and I remember wondering what was going to happen to all of us....what kind of world were we facing? I wanted to bottle the innocence I had around me.
When we got back to Texas on Friday, September 14th, the parking lot was full of parents. Stricken is the only word I know to describe the way they looked. The smiles were gone....only anxiousness to reclaim their children. Our world had changed forever.
Never forget......
