September 11, 2001

It happened on a Tuesday morning and I was two weeks into my senior year in high school.

I woke up especially early that day to Erika and dad arguing about the television.  It was around 6:30.  I rolled out of bed to find out what all the commotion was in the living room.  Dad was telling her to turn the TV off because it's a distraction while we were getting ready for school.  Erika was telling him that it was the news and this situation was actually happening.  I walked in as the third plane smashed into the Pentagon.  We just sat there in awe.  It was unreal watching this happen.  Erika had told us that two planes hit the World Trade Center buildings in lower Manhattan.  We saw the footage from New York, Washington and a fourth plane that crashed in a town I've never heard of until that day, Shanksville, Pennsylvania.   I wanted to know more.

Doug got up early just to see what was going on.  He woke up from all the talking as well.  We all ate cereal and sat around watching what was unfolding on the TV.  Just before 7 a.m. the south tower collapsed and we all just sat there with our mouths open, it had burned for 56 minutes.  What did we just see?  Was it even possible for those buildings to fall like that?  All of those people trapped...all of those helpless people and pilots on board those planes, just horrible.  About another half hour later the north tower collapsed, the same manner as the other tower, that one burned for 102 minutes.  I wonder why that one burned longer?  I just couldn't fathom being one of those people trapped in the buildings above the impact zone or the passengers on those airplanes and what they did with the last minutes of their lives before they perished.  I never want to feel like I have no control over a hijacking or being stuck in an office building with no way down.

We all finally got ready for school after being glued to the TV since 6:30.  We watched the news up until we actually had to get in the truck to head to school.  School started at 8:30 in Rainier. 

We didn't do a darn thing in school except watch the chaos unfold on the TV's.  I even remember sitting in a classroom at lunch time watching a television.  We were watching history happen with our very own eyes.  Every generation has their "September 11th".  In the 20th century, we had the sinking of the Titanic, WWI, WWII, the Great Depression slavery, Kennedy being shot, Vietnam War, devastating earthquakes, tsunami's, bombings and other memorable life shattering moments in time.  Depending on who you ask, they will tell you exactly what they were doing when that moment occurred.

I can tell you exactly what I was doing on September 11, 2001 it was just an ordinary day until I woke up that morning.

The St. John Epic Poem, Summer 2001

I’ve waited eleven months up to this day,

when we left for St. John 320 miles away.

Packing my essentials the night before,

soon became an annoying chore.

But then I remembered a paper handed to me,

it made my job easier to a certain degree.

Getting up stuffing my bags in the van,

when everyone gets there we should have a plan.

Everyone got there packed the vehicles tight,

we received our walkie talkies, I said alright!

Leaving the parking lot, can’t wait to get there,

eating Jody’s licorice, she decided to share.

In Willmarth’s Rodeo is the place to be,

listening to 80’s music he downloaded for free.

On the way there, many stops were made,

the bathroom, food and gas; some delayed.

Around 3:30 is when we arrived,

to our disappointment we were deprived.

The teacher that owned the futon, packed up and moved,

the futon we loved, it was removed.

We had to share beds, so we improvised a bit,

it was a little strange, we have to admit.

In Cheney, our first game started at five,

after that game we came out barely alive.

We ate at a restaurant, went back to St. John,

into the school, a war was going on.

Napavine and Mossyrock disputed over rooms,

to our view Mossy won, our team assumes.

The new morning bright and early we rise,

we played Winlock, “oh, what a surprise!”

That game was interesting, some rules were broken,

that Winlock coach was sure outspoken.

Determining out placement for the game the next day,

we lost too many games, we were gonna pay.

Getting up early once again,

we were surely tired, like we have been.

We played one game, then went to the mall,

it’s the cool hang out place after all.

We ate lunch and went through the stores,

Amber isn’t that sunglass case yours?

We went back to Eastern and play our last game,

the one from this morning, the results stand the same.

We needed some snacks, stopped at Safeway,

Katie and Liz saw the hair dye on display.

Willmarth hands out the tickets, I scratch, oh shucks,

Jody scratched hers and won fifty bucks.

On to St. John’s, the caravan of girls,

Did we just hit a patch of squirrels?

Going through Pine City, we saw familiar faces,

sitting on poles? Man, those are strange places.

Vanessa having problems, got stuck on the pole,

getting down on the ground, was her major goal.

 Got to our room, laid down and rested,

does anyone want to play Mafia? Barlow suggested.

So we played Mafia, the game was intense,

until someone caught Mafia, it grew in suspense.

Everyone grew tired, needed something to do,

started three point bump, the numbers grew.

Every night past nine, we gathered to play,

the coaches told us to go, we wanted to stay.

I stayed up with my friends in the middle of the hall,

later on that night, the group grew small.

We were tired, goodnight we all said,

I went to my room, Katie was in my bed.

I helped her out, put her in her own,

I wonder why she was in my bed, that fact unknown.

Being there your first time you feel kind of scared,

not Kellie Mastey, she was prepared.

Morning came, the doughnuts were out,

I’m sure Megan Sullivan couldn’t do without.

We all got dressed, we all looked great,

“Hey, that kangaroo stole my ball!” G’day mate.

Seeing Alicia O’Toole in her Hawaiian shorts,

that makes you wonder if she has them in all sorts.

Played our first game, the score drew near,

they barely squeaked by, emotions severe.

We stopped at a house before our next game,

we took a special picture, and put it in a frame.

Memories of your past, you don’t let go,

we made coach Hergert smile, we’re happy to know.

The rest of the games, we were feared,

leaving them behind, on the wall smeared.

We ate dinner, visited the rest of the night,

hung out in our room, everyone in sight.

There’s two people missing, who could they be?

Meeghan playing cards with cheatin’ Lindsay B.

We all went to bed after watching TV,

I turned it off and went to go pee.

I walked out, went through the hall alone,

there was Katie standing there yakin’ on the phone.

The next morning we had an extra match,

the jv went second, had a score to catch.

On our way to Steptoe, our second game that day,

we kicked Kettle Falls’ butts and sent them on their way.

Eating our lunches on the playground in the sun,

playing on the tire swing, that was really fun.

We finished up at Steptoe, we didn’t do too well,

Jody rolled her ankle, her foot began to swell.

We went back to St. John, had a game to win,

we wiped them off the map, dinner was surely in.

We scrambled to the kitchen, got into the line,

I’ll tell you one thing, the food was mighty fine.

We went back to our room and checked our e-mail,

I checked mine second, it was in detail.

Around rolled 10 p.m. and we were getting tired,

some of us still up, they were really wired.

The next morning, we had an early game,

the high school gym packed, a lot of people came.

That first game of the day was an exciting one,

the first half buzzer went off, the other team was done.

The rest of the games that day we ran them off the court,

I pointed to them and said, “go play another sport!”

We all got cleaned up, found some dark clothes to wear,

some of them forgot, they were unaware.

Our traditional laser tag game, I couldn’t wait to go,

we soon got to laser tag, we all put on a show.

Jezebel almost got me, I avoided her gun,

after three years of playing, I have finally won.

We went to Dick’s restaurant , ate cheap food there,

a hundred seagulls surrounding us, feeding, we did not dare.

We went back to St. John, inside it was a zoo,

Ony was playing treasure hunt, a basketball game going too.

Shane asked me to play with them against St. John’s jv,

I went and got my jersey and I did agree.

The game was really different, playing on a mixed team,

there were no rules or regulations, it didn’t really seem.

After the game the annual talent show was prepared,

we finally got Barlow to play the violin without being scared.

The talent show was finished, to the room the girls went,

trying to find Val, so they could torment.

The list Rebecca made seemed to be funny and wise,

telling us we didn’t need so much make-up for our eyes.

It wasn’t a beauty pageant but despite this advice,

they played “Moulin Rouge” instead of “Vanilla Ice”.

Everyone heard about the Rainier girls make-up,

they peaked around our door, hey what’s up.

From my point of view, it seemed like a hundred,

how did they all fit in there? I wondered.

They chased me and Barlow around for a little while,

I guess they gave up, it wasn’t worthwhile.

They cleaned it all up and put stuff away,

I’m glad they didn’t put make-up on me, or I’d look the same way.

That night I stayed up with a bunch of people out in the hall,

remembering the memories, I will never forget them all.

The next morning, the seniors played their last outing,

I got ball, I got ball, we were all shouting.

Like the first day, the score within range,

it’s like we played this exact game before, wow, that is so strange.

We cleaned out of room, and finished out the day,

packed up our stuff and we were on our way.

I had an awesome week, the best I ever had,

next year I don’t get to go, I know I’ll be sad.

Making it back to Rainier, I missed my home and bed,

this season I’m excited for, just lies ahead.

Being a senior, this summer went so well,

to all my younger teammates, I bid you farewell.

Written by Val Larson

September 2001