NINE ELEVEN
What were you doing that day?
I was in front of my classroom. We didn't believe it, it sounded like fiction. We didn't have cable TV. We didn't really know what was going on. Teachers began heading to the hallways with their cellphones calling people who had access to CNN. It was true. We were told not to say anything to our students. I hugged each one of my fourth graders as they left the building that day... They had an early release day scheduled. By the time they got on the bus we knew something awful had happened, we didn't know if it was over. We didn't know what was next. It was the last day before a 6 week fall break (It was a year round school system.). The administration MADE us stay for the rest of the day for training. Can you imagine that any of us learned anything? None of us had still seen the news. A friend had borrowed my car, so I was relying on her for transportation. Her husband came and to me when they finally released us and took me to his house. I remember seeing it on the news in his kitchen. I remember the air being sucked out of me.
Do you remember that day?
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families that were and are still affected by the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 and to all of the military families and civilian families that have been affected as a result of the tragedy.
I remember. My mom called my apartment and woke up my husband, then he brought me out to watch the towers going down on the television. I called work to make sure people were coming in that day and they were, but no one was doing anything but hitting refresh on cnn.com
ReplyDeleteThat was a horrible day. Both my husband sister were in Manhattan and I couldn't get in touch with them for hours. Then a friend's husband was at the Stock Exchange and she was in a panic.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to work the next morning, a coworker's husband who was a firefighter, died in one of the towers. She was five months pregnant.
I can't believe it's been 9 years.
Yes, my thoughts and prayers too to all the families and loved ones of those whose lives were lost and continue to be lost as a consequence of that awful awful day.
ReplyDeleteI remember being at work - it was nearly lunchtime - one of my colleagues came into our office looking very puzzled and said something like "I think there's been a very bad plane accident in New York". We checked the BBC website. Horrible.
I remember going home and there was a palpable feeling of uncertainty and fear because by then the actual event was being played out in real time on all the online news sites and big TV screens at the train stations.
Awful awful days.
Take care
x
I was in Palm Springs working; we were listening to the radio… at first we didn’t think it was real, once we knew it was no joke we left work and was glued to the TV all day. Just thinking about it saddens my heart, that’s a day I’ll never forget.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what anyone says about Bush, one thing is for sure, they did something right, because it hasn’t happened since.
Can’t believe is been that long ago…
I was in Dallas, TX, with my Mom and my first kitty, Nikki (1984-2004), taking Nik to a specialist for tests (they determined that afternoon she was too old for radiation, she lived another 3 years 9-18-04)...Anyway, had cried in the parking lot with Nik before taking her into the animal hospital and went to McDonald's with my Mom where people told us of the 1st tower crash, immediately followed by a phone call from my Dad; I told them right then it was no accident and within minutes, the other plane hit...My Mom and I went back to the hotel and watched TV all day until I could pick up Nik around 4:30 pm; we drove back to LA on a deserted interstate, starting in Dallas at 5 pm=never seen anything like it, not one other car for many many miles...I had family in NYC, didn't find out if they were safe until the evening on our drive home...A haunting day filled with so much evil and finally, so many heroes.
ReplyDeleteWe weren't around yet, but my Dad and Mom sure remember. My Mom had just had some surgery and was home recovering. She was watching TV and saw it all as it happened. Thanks to their memories we will always remember too!
ReplyDeleteMy brother, who lives in Manhattan, called to tell us he was okay. On Monday, September 10, at 9am, he'd been having breakfast with a client on the ground floor of the World Trade Center. The client had called earlier that morning wanting to postpone till the next day, but my brother couldn't and so they kept their Monday breakfast meeting.
ReplyDeleteThat, my friend, is fate.
I was supposed to be in school that day, but my then-4-year-old had dislocated his elbow. I spent the day watching various televisions, first at the orthopedic and then at the hospital. It was so unreal, and yet painfully real, all that day.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will ever forget. We heard at recess and brought the TV into the staff room. Whoever was on release gave eveyrone updates throughout the day. We discussed it carefully with the kids after lunch because many had gone home and heard about it. It's still hard to believe it happened.
ReplyDeleteWendy - amazing story. So glad he didn't change the date.
I was home with Robyn, and she kept asking me to turn off the TV because it was scary and I was crying.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon .. I was out working, driving between appointments, and was amazed and horrified at what I was hearing. The news footage was too terrible to see - and to think about those poor souls. The heroes who did so much are wonderful - just so grateful the loss was not more. It is good to remember .. I don't think any of us can ever forget those pictures ..
ReplyDeleteRemember all the souls - Hilary
hi miss sharon! i was just little so i dont remember. alex does and said its one of those things you just cant believe happened. even now after so long we still gotta remember and keep thinking about those poor people and making prayers for them. i dont think you could ever get past something like that without lots and lots of prayers.
ReplyDelete...hugs from lenny
I don't think anyone will ever forget this day. I was glued to the TV that morning and had to rip myself away to attend a training session. I did not learn anything that day from the course. I don't think anyone did. All I could think of was what was happening in the world that day. So much sadness.
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
Will certainly never forget that day. I was at home alone when my husband called and told me to turn on the tv, and I sat and watched in disbelief and crying until he got home. We talked to all our loved ones that we could. It was so heartbreaking, but I was so thankful for the safety of my family and praying for other families filled with grief.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe they made you stay for the rest of the day. That's crazy. I can't imagine anyone got anything done.
ReplyDeleteWe were overseas, in Austria, and my husband was giving a report to the Austrian Stock Exchange. The news stopped everything and they had to frantically figure out what to do - how it would effect the stocks.
I'm sad every year on this day. It's important to remember.
Robin--Thanks for joining in on such a somber discussion. I was home for 6 weeks starting after we were released at the end of that day. I remember not being able to leave the house other than going to church and to donate blood. It took me a while before I could force myself to go and buy groceries...it seemed so trivial.
ReplyDeleteTheresa--I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's co-worker's spouse. I hope that she is doing okay today.
My cousin lives on Long Island and her in-laws had a place in Manhattan. They had to walk out.
Jennifer--Horrible is a good word to describe it...
Jeff--I agree with you...
Jacqueline--For me when the planes stopped it was very erie. I think I've lived near an airport for most of my life and when the planes stopped and the silence was deafening...
Brian--Your lucky to have such a good Mom and Dad. :)
Wendy--Wow...Your brother was blessed...
Shannon--Thanks for sharing...I don't think any of us will forget where we were...ever.
Jemi--It made me feel so awful not knowing all the facts and putting my kids on the bus ( those kids are freshmen in college this year) to go home without a word from me about what was going on. I don't understand why the school district made that descision.
Myrna--We didn't let Katherine see anything on TV about it. She was in kindergarten. We told her what happened in basic terms, but felt that it was more than she could handle...It was more than I could handle....
Hilary M-B--You're right it is good to remember. I think it is a way to honor those who lost and those who gave their lives.
Lenny--You are right...We do need to keep praying for all of those people. We need to learn to accept people no matter what their religious or political beliefs are. Different doesn't mean wrong...it just means different.
Catherine--You're right...it was profoundly sad...When I finally venured out, people were either angry and agressive or very sad and almost zombie like.
Connie--When I finally saw the TV, I was glad I wasn't with my daughter and wasn't alone. That video seemed so unreal...
Heidi--I get sad every year on this day too. It is important to remember.
In the weeks after September 11th people in our city (Saint Louis) seemed more caring towards each other. The lines to donate blood at the red cross centers were long. People seemed to stop and ask how you were. Strangers opened the door for you at shops. I saw people just stop people who had vacant looks on their faces and check on them...I noticed husbands and wives of all ages holding hands. Parents not yelling at their kiddos in public...more hugs...more people in church...people offering a helping hand.
Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts on That Day. Hugs and prayers to all of you (no matter what faith you may be)....
In Australia I heard it on the radio. I was still in bed. My husband had left for work before the sun was up so I was all alone. I couldn't believe it at first. I turned on the tv news and I still couldn't believe it.
ReplyDeleteDear Sharon,
ReplyDeleteAnd on that day, that day of horror beyond comprehension, the world changed, forever.
I sat in disbelief as the tragedy unfolded on the screens over here in England.
Peaceful blessing to all those who have lost loved ones, to America and to our world.
Yes, I still remember that day - the big and small details of the whole day - like it happened yestreday. Most of all, I remember the urge I felt to just go home and gather my family close to me...
ReplyDeleteLynda--I can't imagine the impact it would have had seeing it alone...
ReplyDeleteGary--It did change the world that day...places (the West) that seemed untouchable felt a horrible blow.
Hema--I think I sat wrapped up under a blanket on the sofa for days watching, hoping and praying for survivors...
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS...
The phone rang. My daughter told me to turn the TV on. She had been watching when the first plane struck. We were both watching when the second plane struck. It was many, many, many hours before we knew if my son was on one of the planes. He was not, but he was supposed to have been. He was called an hour before the flight an' told that his schedule had been changed, but he was unable to let us know until late the next day.
ReplyDeleteEverytime I think of that day, I am reminded that for the second time in his life, I din't know if our child would still be with us.
I cried then an' I cry now. My heart aches for all those who have suffered because someone felt the need to lash-out... for whatever reason. I know how I felt, not knowing where my son was. I cannot imagine the pain an' heartache suffered by so many who lost someone they loved.
~ Yaya