In 1979, I lived 17 miles from Three Mile Island.
Sometime on March 28th, I ran into my friend in our high school office. Her parents were pulling her out of school because the whole family was leaving the state. She said there was a problem at TMI and that I should tell my mother it was important to leave. My friend was very serious, her parents were college educated and I thought highly of them. When I told my mother she rolled her eyes and said they were ridiculous.
At one point a boy ran through the hallway laugh-screaming that we were all going to die.
Hours turned into days, mild concern became a panic. At school, students were trying to process what was happening, some were crying and teachers spent the time talking to us instead of teaching. At one point a boy ran through the hallway laugh-screaming that we were all going to die.
My father, through it all, continued to go to work just like it was another day.
At home, we kept the TV on. I remember how my mother covered her face with her hands and screamed when they told the public about the bubble that might cause a melt down. I thought of my friend with the smart parents who definitely would be OK. I never felt more the child of blue collar, high school educated parents than I did in that moment. My father, through it all, continued to go to work just like it was another day.
Amy