You know when I drive down Savannah Highway these days, it feels completely different. I have to drive past the site of the fire almost everyday and no matter what I am doing, talking on the phone or listening to the radio, I always turn the radio off or get off the phone when I pass the site. It is my tiny, little way of showing my respect and remembering everytime I pass the site the sacrifices that took place there on June 18th, 2007.
You know I am alittle embarrassed to tell you this, but on Saturday, after covering the fire and the nine fallen firemen for the past week on the radio, I avoided driving by the site. I was out all day running errands and I kept taking alternate routes just so I wouldn’t have to look at the site. It’s like I just couldn’t handle seeing it again after covering all that happened on Friday (the processional and the Memorial). Then I thought about that decision I had made on Saturday, to just avoid it, turn away for a day because I just couldn’t handle another day of the sadness. Then I realized that the families, friends, and co-workers of those nine fallen fireman will never have that luxury…to just turn it off one day, not think about it. So the very next day, I drove by it on purpose on the way to my play rehearsal. I was amazed how many people were there at the site still placing flowers and mementos and the imagine how surprised I was when I drove home after rehearsal at 10:00pm at night there were STILL people out there. They were talking to the policeman on duty and there seemed like such a quite brotherhood and sisterhood going on at this place of such tragedy.
My stomach always tightens everytime I drive by the site of the fire, but I will make sure I drive by it and never try and avoid it again. Long after the flowers are wilted and the signs have faded something spiritual will remain at that site. It’s not a a burned out Sofa Superstore to me, it hallowed ground.
When you drive by always turn your face and look and all I ask, all anyone can ask, is that you remember…the Charleston 9 and all of the firemen that will forever be our guardian angels.
