When I was young and heard adults talking about where they were when a major historical event occurred — Pearl Harbor, JFK’s assassination, the Moon Landing — I didn’t quite understand the significance. Having now lived through several notable moments in history myself — Nixon’s resignation, Reagan’s being shot, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, September 11th — I have a better appreciation for that impulse.
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When the BIG events happen, time freezes momentarily. You may not remember what you had for breakfast yesterday, but you darn well remember where you were and what you were doing when the world shifted. I’m sure there’s a scientific explanation for our psychological reaction to such events. All I know is that when you reflect on them — when you mark anniversaries of them, for instance — there’s a sense of being transported back to that moment. It all feels very