I'll never forget...
I can't believe that it's been three years since September 11. One one hand, the memories and emotions are still so fresh. On the other hand, it feels like a lifetime ago.
Growing up, I always heard grown ups talk about where they were when JFK was shot. It was a day they'd never forget.
September 11, 2001 created a new question for our generation. Where were you on September 11, 2001? How did you hear about the attacks? How were you effected? How did you feel?
I invite you to share your stories.
I was on my way to work in the Midwest when I heard about the first plane that hit the trade center on the radio. The news report was sketchy. They said that it was a small plane, assumed it was an accident. After all, there had been an accident with a plane crashing into a building not long before.
Then they announced the second plane. I thought that they must be mistaken. They must have read the same news release twice. So I called my sister-in-law. J lives in NY, and worked in Manhattan, just a few blocks from the trade center. Fortunately, she was home on maternity leave. Anyway, I could tell by her voice that something was terribly wrong. She just kept repeating over and over, "I just watched the second plane hit. It was a big plane. I just saw the second plane hit the building."
By this time I arrived at work. I ran into my office and dropped my stuff on my desk. I worked in a nursing home, and we didn't have a TV in our dept. It was obvious to me that none of the other staff knew what was going on. I told them the little that I knew, and we all ran into the nearest room with a TV.
Within a few minutes, the room was filled with people staring blankly at the TV. I was shaking, tears in my eyes.
We continued with our day as normal as possible. The OT staff down the hall had a TV in there gym, so they updated us as often as possible. I was so afraid. None of us knew what was going to happen next.
I was worried about my parents because they had left the day before to drive out to NY. The were already on the road when for the day everything started. They often drive listening to books on tape, so I had no idea if they knew what they were driving toward. I tried repeatedly to reach them, but Mom didn't have her phone on.
I was worried about my (then) boyfriend (now dh). He was working at a hospital in Center City Philadelphia. I was worried that Philly was the next target. I couldn't get a hold of him either that day. He forgot his pager.
I was finally able to reach everyone, and they were all ok. Philly had been evacuated, except for the hospitals.
Over the next several days we learned that the people on the east coast could not call each other. So I called my brother, parents, parents' friends, dh's family to relay messages. I became a switchboard of sorts.
We learned that my brother's best man was on the 96th floor of the north tower, and hadn't been heard from. He died that day. He was probably in the plane's path of collision.
We learned of other friends that had been there and survived.
None of us in the United States will ever be the same after that day. And with as much as it is vitally important that we continue to heal, I hope that we never forget.
God bless the victims and their families. God bless those who are fighting for our country's safety.
posted by Christine at 9/10/2004 07:59:00 PM
4 Comments:
9/11 I worked for the FAA. I didn't know anyone who was over in New york, or anyone who was flying, so that part wasn't stressful. Our building went into lockdown, and we had to go home. We went back to work a couple days later, building still in complete lockdown. And today, still in lockdown
We all sat and stood and stared at the pictures on the TV, in shock, people running around in our building like crazy, before we were sent home.
That was it.
Kris
Brokenornot
I copied, too.
http://kether.blogspot.com/2004/09/911.html
I was at work and had just announced that I was pregnant with my son Jake. I was going around and everyone was happy. Then the news started trickling in and my happiness turned quickly to "what am I doing having a baby in this crazy world?" Another coworker must have read it on my face and gave me a hug and said we need more good people in this world. I will remember that day as long as I live. I was an emotional wreck the next couple of months thinking that our world was on the verge of ending and actually discussed with my husband where we would meet in case of a nuclear war. He must have thought I lost it. I am sure the hormones had a lot to do with it.
I was at school preparing for the day when my husband called saying that a plane just hit the world trade center. He said he though it was an accident, but not to worry he was OK (he worked in mid-town). I ran into the hallway of my school & went down the hall to a classroom that had a tv. There I saw the 2nd plane hit on live TV. A few minutes later my husband called back to say he saw the plane hit from his office. I was horrified & told him to call my dad (who also worked in the city) & told him to get out of there. A few minutes later the kids started coming in for the day & we were told not to say anything about what was going on. We had to pretend nothing was wrong & act normal. I was a mess with my husband, my father, & my brother (who just started a job on Wall Street) all in the city. At one point I remember hearing planes fly overhead & I almost ducked because I was afraid they were going to hit. I found out later those were our F-14 planes protecting the area. As the school day progressed, many studnets were being picked-up early. Before the day ended we had to worry about where all of our kids were going to go. Many had parents working in the city & many were in those towers. There were quite a few parents who died in the towers that day from our school.
We were having trouble using our cell phones & we couldn't get in touch with my dad or brother. We were worried that they were on the Path train under the world trade. Eventually we heard from them both & they were fine. THANK GOD!!! There were so many families in our area that were not as lucky & had months of uncertainty ahead of them & years of mourning. Each September 11th brings back all those raw emotions. I was relieved that this year it landed on a Saturday. Before I went to bed last night, I looked out my bedroom window & I could see the huge white light coming from the place where the towers should have been. It was a very sad reminder of what should have been & all the lives and hope that were lost that day.
I am sorry this is so long. I could actually go on longer if I let myself. Thanks for making this post. It is interesting to read about how others spent that horrible day.
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