Sandi and Lorlee remember tragedies. . .

We've asked classmates to respond to the question, "Where were you when these three national tragedies occurred: JFK Assassination, Challenger Crash and World Trade Center attack? Sandi Pennar Bonesteel and Lorlee Bartos demonstrate that our memories are clear when we think of these events. -- TB

Where Was I?
By Sandi Pennar Bonesteel
When the Challenger blew up: I will always remember this, because it happened on my birthday. It was Jan. 28, 1986, so it was my 39th. I had just dropped my daughter, Kara, at school following an orthodontist appointment and then went to the Pediatric clinic where I worked.
The place wasn’t as busy as it usually was. Our waiting room was usually full with walk-ins by then. No one there knew anything until our first appointment showed up…. late...which wasn't like them. They had had the TV on and couldn’t get out the door when this happened. It was chilling to watch it later.

The World Trade Center attack:
I was backing out of my garage that morning to go to the gym for a client, when I heard the first reports on the radio. This was when the first plane had struck and they initially thought it was an accident. They went back to music. By the time I pulled up to the gym, there were more reports, and I saw people leaving in droves, on their cell phones, etc.
I walked into an empty gym. I wasn’t able to leave, as the gym owner was waiting for me to cover the place, as he had a meeting somewhere. So there I stayed, all by myself, with only the radio, until I could get home later.(this is a "hardcore" gym---no TV!)
My client had left, along with everyone else, once they knew the enormity of it. I think I could have locked up the place and left, as no one came in. Once I heard about the second plane, and the towers falling, I had a pit in my stomach.
I was freaking out when I heard one of the planes was American Airlines, as my nephew was an AA pilot. I finally got home, saw the horrific replays and, after several hours, got in touch with my sister, who said Scott wasn’t flying that day. I later found out that another nephew had had an appointment at the WTC Sept 12, on one of the floors above where the planes had hit. Just recalling this is giving me chills.

JFK Assassination:
I had just come from the cafeteria, and was in the hallway, going to my locker. I think it was Paula who first told me. She had heard it from someone and intially thought it was a bad joke until she heard other reports. We had Mr. Morrison for History next period, and needless to say there was no class.
There had been an announcement over the PA system and everyone rushed to the classrooms to listen. There was none of the usual shenangians going on in the hallways---they were deserted. We all sat in silence, absolutely dumbstruck---same thing for 6th period.
After that, everyone quietly left for home, as they were anxious to get home and turn on the TV. I was scheduled to work after school that day, at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital. There I had access to TV as it was in the patients' rooms, so I saw my first images there.
I was in a fog, and it was pretty hard to do anything. I remember this old man swearing, "That dirty bastard killed our President" and he was crying. Everyone was. It was a horrible day. I was off the weekend, and the TV was on the entire time. The lines of people filing in to pass the casket, John John saluting, and the riderless horse with the boots on backwards are what first comes to mind. Those images will stay with me forever.

By Lorlee Bartos
As to the Challenger question: I was lying in bed on Saturday morning listening to NPR when I heard a loud boom and thought perhaps it was a traffic accident on my street. As the news came in on the radio, I knew it had been the Challenger as it crashed in East Texas about 75 miles from me. We could hear the boom that far away. (Uh, Lorlee -- I think that would be Columbia. Challenger was the one that blew up right after blast off because of its damaged "O" rings. --TB)

Twin Towers
I was at home again listening to NPR….. Got more information on the way in to work on the bus, all of us knowing something and guessing at the rest. By the time I got to the office the first tower was falling and we were watching on a TV in the marketing department. Shortly thereafter, our building was evacuated since it is the tallest building in downtown Dallas (70 stories) on a direct path from the Dallas Forth Worth airport and there were still rumors of aircraft unaccounted for.
On the way home on the bus, everyone came out of the normal solitary worlds they inhabit and I learned the name of a fantastic rose from a woman I had never met. I planted it the next spring. So for me, although its real name is "Mermaid", it will always be the "World Trade Center Rose."

And the JFK Question…. A bit more detail…. Chess Club during lunch break and Michael Perreton was the bearer of the news which I found unbelievable and told him so.

Okay, classmates, now send your recollections to Trailboss@swpub.com