We finally got on our way around 11:30am, but he forgot his smokes so we pulled off the freeway at Carmenita in Cerritos. He ran into the grocery store, got stuck behind a person writing a check (it really made him angry that it took so long), so he ran out complaining and we were off once more - but he missed the freeway on-ramp. As he was cursing the general existence of freeway planners, the world exploded.
Aeromexico Flight 498 was struck mid-air by a small, private plane. The DC-9 came falling from the sky in a firestorm onto the unsuspecting residential neighborhood, and I was there to witness it happen right before my eyes.
I still have nightmares about the motorcyclist that laid down his bike and immediately began undressing to cover the various body parts that were raining down all around us...the lower arm that landed approximately 10 feet from my backseat window is etched into my psyche forever.
82 people died that day...and he decided to still take me to Disneyland.
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My heart aches at that last line. You poor, poor little girl.
ReplyDelete@Sarah: Thank you for feeling for me...some adults are not meant to be responsible for a fly, and yet they have children...I was 11 years old. It's funny, since I started blogging regularly; and writing incessantly - all of these past issues have been rearing their ugly heads. It seems, for me at least, writing is to be a catharsis and I might not be able to write a fictional novel until I deal with the non-fiction story of my life!
ReplyDeleteOMG, that is horrific! What an awful image to have in your head... *shudders* I can't believe he still dragged you to Disneyland after that.
ReplyDelete@Crystal: "The Happiest Place on Earth" after being surrounded by death...a bit surreal. I think that I was in shock, I remember getting yelled at a lot that day because I wasn't smiling in the pictures and I kept crying "for no reason".
ReplyDeleteWow. I am so sorry you had to see that. *Hugs*
ReplyDeleteholy crap. I've never even heard a story like this before.
ReplyDelete@Liz: I'm sorry I had to see it too, I'm even sorrier that it had to happen. All those people lost...
ReplyDelete@Michael: I guess my past is a bit unique, huh?
Wow. There's not a lot you can say to that.
ReplyDeleteKudos to that motorcyclist for doing what he could. As for your step-dad...I send you my sympathies.
what a story. i feel like i know your stepfather from hell.
ReplyDeleteglad to hear you are getting something out of this sort of cathartic writing. it's really well told, with such great detail and brevity.
nice to meecha. here from kelley's place.
@Maria: I agree, I always waited to hear about the motorcyclist getting some sort of award for heroism...if he did, I don't know about it - but that is the way of heroes; isn't it?
ReplyDelete@Ed: Glad to have you visit! Hope you decide to stay. Thank you so much for the kind words, I truly appreciate the feedback.