The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

9/11: 20 Years Later

September 10, 2021

I was wearing a steel blue shirt, khakis, and brown boots. I was sitting in our sophomore biology class when we heard a bomb went off in one of the twin towers. Our teacher let us go across the hall into the special-education room where they had televisions. We remained there the rest of that class to watch the horror unfold. And throughout the day we were glued to the news.

Later that night I drove mom’s van to the gas station with grandpa to fill up. Why? Because that’s what everyone was doing. I suppose adults realized we may end up at war with the Middle East, and gas may be scarce. Grandpa was horrified when someone cut me in line and I flipped off the driver. I had never done that before to anyone ever. I suppose my nerves were frayed.

I was 15. A high school sophomore in small town America. I didn’t know what the World Trade Center was. I didn’t know what the Pentagon was. I had never flown on an airplane. I had never visited a big city. And I definitely didn’t know what terrorism was.

My senior year of high school I visited New York for the first time. I was adamant that I wanted to see Ground Zero. Our group was on a shopping trip (we obviously had different priorities). But our group leader promised me we could go there. I didn’t realize how close we were. We turned a corner and I first noticed the road had large asphalt patches. I remember thinking those were some crazy big potholes. I later learned the road was damaged by falling debris from the towers.

Ground Zero was really just a big hole in the ground in 2003. It had construction barriers around it and could’ve been any construction site. I could see where the underground levels were still visible. There were memorials here and there. It was so surreal to be standing in that place where all those horrible things had happened. Before I knew it, I was crying.

And that’s what’s so funny about it, even now. I didn’t know anyone who died. I had no nostalgia for New York. I hadn’t visited the capital. I didn’t personally know any firefighters or EMTs. I had no connection to any of it.

Except I did. Because it was my country. My fellow Americans. So it was personal, even if it wasn’t personal.

Let’s be honest: that’s how we all felt. That’s why the coming days and months we saw an unusual unity in out country. We were devastated by the tragedy, but inspired by the courage and heroic acts. We were, above anything else, Americans.

I’ve been through a lot over the last two decades. College. Law school. Two battles against cancer. I’ve traveled, given speeches, argued in court, and bought a house. I’ve also lost people and friends and pets that I love dearly. In other words, I’ve grown up.

And all of that has made each anniversary so much more poignant. Because now I can relate to the people who were involved so much more easily. I go to work every day in a tall (though not that tall!) building. I work in my office. I build relationships with my colleagues. And I have dreams and aspirations for my life.

Just like all of them.

One day I’ll make it back to New York City (despite my aversion to big cities…). I’ll see the beautiful memorial that replaced that awful hole in the ground. I’ll probably cry again. And it’ll feel like I’ve come full circle.

On the 20th anniversary of that awful, life-changing day, I’ll do what I normally do. I’ll watch the tv specials. I’ll cry for those regular people who turned into heroes. I’ll don my red, white, and blue. I’ll appreciate being an American.

And I won’t forget. I’ll never forget.

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Special Issues

Comments

  1. Dennis Laughton says

    September 10, 2021 at 10:21 pm

    Friends in our church, their daughter worked in one of those towers. She worked late into the night to finish a project on Sept. 10. Her supervisor told her to sleep in and show up after lunch.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

9 hours ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Under 200 acres...#harvest23

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

19 hours ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Under 200 acres...#harvest #harvest23 #cornfarmers

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

3 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

You've been warned. ๐Ÿคฃ

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

1 week ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Fear-based marketing isn't ok, regardless of whether it comes from radical environmental groups or farmers.

... See MoreSee Less

Good products sell themselves; fear doesn't need to be an ingredient | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Social media posts from direct-to-consumer beef producers show photos of their product purportedly next to store-bought beef and make nutrition claims.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

1 week ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Had to break for the snow earlier this week. But back at it and making progress.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

thefarmersdaughterusa

Amanda | The Farmer's Daughter USA
I'm a proud farmer's daughter & advocate for modern agriculture. U.S. farmers are leaders in sustainability.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Under 200 acres... #harvest #harvest23 #cornfarme Under 200 acres...

#harvest #harvest23 #cornfarmers
Just a reminder. #agriculture #usagriculture #far Just a reminder.

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture
Happy Thanksgiving! I realized this morning that Happy Thanksgiving!

I realized this morning that it's been 20 years since I performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What a trip!

I hope you and yours have a lovely day! ๐Ÿฆƒ
Honestly, what is she even doing?? #Mischa #dogsl Honestly, what is she even doing??

#Mischa
#dogslife
She's got me. #dogslife #onlyfurbaby #naptime She's got me. 

#dogslife #onlyfurbaby #naptime
Some of you see this picture and appreciate the vi Some of you see this picture and appreciate the view. Our grain cart driver (mom) just sees that scary hill to drive up. ๐Ÿซฃ

 #farming #sustainableag #agriculture #sustainableagriculture #farmers #sustainableagriculturepractices #sustainable #agriculturelife #agricultureeducation #farm #farmer #harvest23๐ŸŒพ
Happy Halloween! I dressed up as an attorney today Happy Halloween! I dressed up as an attorney today. ๐Ÿคฃ

Oh, lawyer jokes. Listen, if you can't make fun or yourself and have a little fun, what are you even doing?
It's true. My puppy. ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ It's true. My puppy. ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ
The first 25 acres of soybeans are done! But the b The first 25 acres of soybeans are done! But the beans still have very high moisture content. It's so high the granary won't accept them. So we'll have to dry them.

The big concern with soybeans is that the pods won't pop open. If that happens, they'll be discarded  out the back of the combine with the other plant material. Obviously not what we want to happen. After testing a bit, enough were opening that we felt like we should just get started.

Slow going, but at least it's going!

 #farming #sustainableag #agriculture #sustainableagriculture #farmers #sustainableagriculturepractices #sustainable #agriculturelife #agricultureeducation #farm #farmer #fearfree #cleanfood #foodsafety #dietfads #FactsNotFear #cleaneatingdiet #foodlabels #truth #cleaneating #Harvest2023
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 ยท Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs