…my sister and I were talking on the phone. I was folding laundry, piles all over the bed. Then a news flash on CNN.. a plane had hit one of the twin towers. My first thoughts were “Oh, a pilot error, how terrible.” Now riveted to the TV, my sister and I watched in horror as the second plane hit…and it was instantly clear this was no accident.
Of all the images you can view with a google of the numbers 9/11, this one haunts me the most. This is the very instant when the world would change forever in a twisted and horrible way. It brought clearly to the surface all the anger and hate that lies beneath. Until this time my generation lived in a relative time of peace.. too young to have been a part of Vietnam, old enough to have been around a while without the experience of living in war time. I was so naive.
And then there was the time of rallying together. We were One Nation again…flags hung from highway overpasses, doorways, bumper stickers…. waving from car antennas, worn on clothing.. we were again a proud nation standing strong together, caring for each other. For a while. We’ve drifted again -yet another tragedy, and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Karen, I was watching it all happen live that morning on Good Morning America. I remember how stunned Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer were when it was taking place. That is an image I think all of us will never forget.
Karen,
I was at my desk at work and saw it on the internet first. My husband was due to fly out to NY the next day. I am thankful he was not there. So sad for all the families of their loved ones who were lost and for our country.
Karen,
I was driving to drop my youngest daughter off at her high school when I heard the news on the car radio–like you, I assumed it was a terrible accident. Upon arriving home, I turned the tv on and watched as the second plane hit the building. I felt stunned horror realizing that I was watching a terrible tragedy unfold in front of my eyes–knowing that people were losing their lives as we all watched on live television.
Thanks for sharing the story about Arthur–when I think of a true American hero, he is the type of person I think of. I must say his personality reminds me of my son who tinkered with things from toddlerhood and could fix things–he called it "his business work". He just finished building his own deer stand and has homemade wine brewing–should be ready in about 5 weeks and I can't wait to taste it!
Stick Horse Cowgirl V
I had just gone to sleep as I had worked graveyards and my husband was out of work at the time and came in and woke me up and said, you have to get up and see something. My heart just dropped.
My prayers still go out to all the families who lost love ones this day and daily prayers to those who lay down their lives every day for our safety. God Bless each and everyone of them.
Laura
I didn't know anything was going on until my husband came rushing in from work at 11:00 a.m. and turned on the TV. I was caught up in it all while he was on the phone with his office, advising everyone to leave the city. Apparently, everyone thought Chicago was the next target. I had lunch mom duty that day and I remember looking at all those innocent children with peanut butter on their faces, so innocent, but in for so much…
I am so sorry about your friend, Arthur. I'll send a prayer your way today, Karen.
xoxo
Jane
I was 8 months pregnant with Michael. I was walking with Pam in Chatfield Hollow on THE most beautiful September morn. I got home just in time to pick up the phone when my husband called about the first plane, only to turn on the tv and see the EXACT photo you have LIVE of the second. It was chilling…They live in the hearts that they left behind…
We were living in Germany at the time, but Tom was on a business trip to the States so I was in Germany alone. It was almost 4 in the afternoon and I called my dad to say "hello". I asked what he was doing and he said he was watching tragedy. I thought it was a movie or something and asked what it was about. He said, "Honey, don't you know what is happening? Can you get an news channels in English?" I immediately turned it on CNN International and watched as my dad started to tell me what was going on. As we talked, we watched the first tower fall. I was in shock. I told Daddy that Tom was flying that day from Detroit to Alabama. He told me to get of the phone, call Tom immediately and tell him to NOT get on a plane. When he said that I started to panic. I tried over and over to call Tom, but all the lines were busy. My phone started to die and people were calling to check on me. I finally got through to him and he was o.k. His flight had been cancelled.
For four or five solid days I could not tear myself away from the t.v. I would eat, sleep and watch t.v. Then the nightmares started. I had horrible horrible dreams of the things I had seen and the people that had been on t.v. My dad told me to turn it off and get out of the house. I remember driving to a small park in a village close to our house. In the park was a small grotto area with a beautiful cross sculpture. I got on my knees and prayed. I prayed for all those who lost their lives and for those who had lost so many loved ones.
I had a huge fear that war would be called immediately and Tom would not be able to get back to get me. I was alone in a foreign country and just afraid. He made it home about a week later. It was different for us because in America, everyone rallied together as one nation. We were told to keep low. In America, flags waved proudly. We were told to put ours away and not be too obvious. It was a very strange time in our lives.
Today, 9 years later, I am home in the States and Tom is in Germany. It is a bit strange feeling, but we spoke this morning and prayed together like we do every year on the 11th. A special prayer for everyone involved in that tragic time who lost their lives and those who still grieve for those they have lost.
I was quite ill at the time Karen and was home in bed sleeping. My husband was at work and he kept trying to call me. When I finally answered, he said…in a voice I will never forget…turn on the tv! I turned it on and our lives were changed forever. I'll never forget the way my husband's voice sounded that day because I had never heard fear in his voice before…fear or maybe shock. It was such a shock. It was the first day of my entire life that I actually felt unsafe in my own house…my own world. Here in the U.S….it just didn't seem right. I couldn't get my hands around the idea. It was just too much to comprehend. I'm so sorry about your friend. So…so…many heroes that day. The day that changed our history.
…I was at work in a nursing home, dispensing morning meds. The breakfast room tv as well as just about every tv in the resident's rooms are on at that time of day so I watched the whole incident unwind as the morning passed… I think having to continue to work and reassure elders helped me to stay calm.
Every person will remember where they were that morning forever…
I had taken that day off to make birthday dinner for my oldest daughter (yes, her birthday is 9.11!).
I was upstairs still in bed drinking coffee and reading my new cell phone's manual. My youngest daughter was in the living room watching the news and waiting for her ride to school.
When she was going out the door she said, "Momma! You better turn on the TV, something bad has happened."
Something bad had happened.
I was walking through the foyer and happened to glance at the tv – and stayed there the rest of the day crying, praying and answering the phone.
When I was in hosp. in St Simons a few years back, I met a man whose sister was in one of those buildings; I could only hug him as I didn't know what to say.
I was at home getting ready for the day after putting my kids on the bus when my phone rang. It was the school asking me if I knew anything about the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. They had called me because of my husband's job and thought I would know what was going on, but I hadn't seen or heard anything about it yet. I couldn't get a hold of my husband and when I finally did he came home just long enough to get his gear and then was at the Pentagon working the scene for next 3 days. It was almost overwhelming for him and the other people on scene as they would eat lunch and dinner surrounded by the wonderful pictures and letters from local school children, reminders of the horrible tragedy suffered by so many!
We live in a military town and almost everyone knew someone personally affected by this terrible day, especially those killed at the Pentagon. My neighbor's father was able to escape one of the towers but eventually suffered a nervous breakdown and was forced to retire. One of my best friends lost her cousin on one of the planes that struck the towers and another friend's brother was killed while working at the Pentagon.
We have a framed photo of the flag hanging on the Pentagon along with a letter of thanks to my husband for his work following 9/11. I feel so fortunate that my personal story is far different from those of the families like your dear friend! I hope we will always remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day!
Kat