sueanninct
Missing the beach!!
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2001
- Posts
- 13,831
The Month of September...Do you remember?
- Thread starter 1sexylady
- Start date
Blue Dolphin
Back home again
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2001
- Posts
- 20,658
1sexylady said:This is a porn site and we play everyday...meeting new people, talking among each other, having fun and making new friends. We wish each other Happy Birthday, try to solve each others problems and are there for each other.....
http://members.cox.net/classicweb/Heroes/heroes.htm
How many years now? Do you still feel the impact it had on your life. I do. I still remember talking with my mother on the phone and looking on the TV in disbelief. I remember asking about friends who worked there. I remember crying as I watched it all. I remember the smoke that headed our way, because we live just across the river and my son not being able to play for recess at school.
I remember the faces of the ones left behind and the determination of the firefighters, police, nurses, doctors, emts, and strangers, looking for anyone alive.
SO REMEMBER.... It didn't just affect our Great Country but others as well. It was not just our people that mourned.
I will never forget the Month of Sepember....
DO YOU REMEMBER???
One of my lesser known works, written after my second visit to the WTC after 9/11.
and what is more. I shall return again.
Lost Septembers
Do they hear me?
The souls of lost September
Ensconced in their earth eternal.
Do my tears wash their hearts?
As memory inveigles the mind,
Recollections of despair,
Disbelief,
Disarray.
A year on I came
To stand,
To touch,
And to cry
Smoke and dust filling senses
Names
So many names.
I knew them not,
And yet, they are my brothers
My sisters
My life.
Silence
Reverent whispers in solitude
And my heart, here to lay, evermore.
I will return
For you are me
I am you
And September be our dawn.
For as long as I breathe, they are there.
Blue Dolphin
Back home again
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2001
- Posts
- 20,658
Re: Re: The Month of September...Do you remember?
My first visit to New york, from England, for those who do not know, was Thanksgiving weekend, 2002.
We arrived Friday afternoon, and went to the WTC at 9 on the Saturday morning.
It was the most moving, and heart wrenching moment of my life. To stand by the fence, underneath the boards containing all the names. People in small groups, whispering, with a reverance I have only ever seen in church. My wife did not believe me, but I could smell dust and smoke, 15 months on. I had 2 cameras and cam corder with me, but they stayed in the bag, I could not, inded would not take photos, it felt wrong. I wept, it was just so unbelievable, and all the memories of sitting in England, watching incredulousy as events unfolded came back. My wife had to leave, crossing the road and going into Century 21, it was too much pain.
Later we tried to read the messages, on the railings around the church, but they were much too moving.
We returned again on the Sunday morning, I said a prayer at the fence.
A year later we came back, and again it was our first call. Many changes had taken place, but the reverance remains, it always will. The railings had been cleared, but the memory was still there. It is a place of pilgrimage for me now, and I will return, and pray once more.
My first visit to New york, from England, for those who do not know, was Thanksgiving weekend, 2002.
We arrived Friday afternoon, and went to the WTC at 9 on the Saturday morning.
It was the most moving, and heart wrenching moment of my life. To stand by the fence, underneath the boards containing all the names. People in small groups, whispering, with a reverance I have only ever seen in church. My wife did not believe me, but I could smell dust and smoke, 15 months on. I had 2 cameras and cam corder with me, but they stayed in the bag, I could not, inded would not take photos, it felt wrong. I wept, it was just so unbelievable, and all the memories of sitting in England, watching incredulousy as events unfolded came back. My wife had to leave, crossing the road and going into Century 21, it was too much pain.
Later we tried to read the messages, on the railings around the church, but they were much too moving.
We returned again on the Sunday morning, I said a prayer at the fence.
A year later we came back, and again it was our first call. Many changes had taken place, but the reverance remains, it always will. The railings had been cleared, but the memory was still there. It is a place of pilgrimage for me now, and I will return, and pray once more.
tonitits
MS. T
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2002
- Posts
- 25,852
I remember that day very well. I had taken my son to school and when I got back to the house, Good Morning America was reporting it,but they were not sure what exactly had happened. They said that they thought an airplane had hit the WTC, but not sure if it was an accident or deliberate and then as they were stating that the second airplane hit the other WTC building. I was so shocked. I could not quit watching the tv and watched the events unfold and hearing all the stories. Just watching the twin towers tumble and the plane hitting the pentagon.I called my mom and we could not believe that this was happening. I guess I am a bit naive, but I NEVER thought that this would happen to our country and that it would not happen here on our land and kill some many innocent ppl. I remember seeing the ppl running and be so scared and not knowing what to do and seeing ppl jumping from buildings to try to get out of the fire. And remember how, like others have stated before that the firefighters and others so bravely risked and gave their lives to save others. All I could think of was how many lives were lost and hurt and forever changed because of evil. And how the terrorist seem to enjoy it. I am very proud to be an American, always have been, but I remember how everyone just came together to lend a hand and how the country as a whole became more patriotic. We are like a very large family....you may get mad at someone or fight with them, but when someone else tries to hurt them, you are there to cover their back and help defend them. UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. That is what makes us the United States, we truly do stand united. My whole world has been changed since that day. I will never forget it. I did not know anyone that was there, but my heart went and still does go out to all the victims and their families. I hate war, but this week brings back memories of why we need to have a war at times. Those poor victims in Russia, terrorists attacking poor school children. It is a shame. The terrorists have got to be stopped.
I appreciate all the men and women who fight to keep our country free and to try to stop the terrorists. A couple of weeks ago a man at work's son, who was a marine, was killed over in Iraq. He was 21 years old, got married last December 23. He was a Marine that got attacked as they were patrolling. The funeral was last Friday. One of my friends said that the funeral was very sad and that that had to be every parents worse nightmare. His son had joined the Marines because he wanted to serve as his dad did. So I guess in a way I did know someone who was involved, even if it was not directly.
http://images-partners.google.com/images?q=tbn:6mgAbRPINyoJ:freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bjcasey/9-11-2001.jpg
I appreciate all the men and women who fight to keep our country free and to try to stop the terrorists. A couple of weeks ago a man at work's son, who was a marine, was killed over in Iraq. He was 21 years old, got married last December 23. He was a Marine that got attacked as they were patrolling. The funeral was last Friday. One of my friends said that the funeral was very sad and that that had to be every parents worse nightmare. His son had joined the Marines because he wanted to serve as his dad did. So I guess in a way I did know someone who was involved, even if it was not directly.
http://images-partners.google.com/images?q=tbn:6mgAbRPINyoJ:freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bjcasey/9-11-2001.jpg
1sexylady
Queen Braticia..........
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2002
- Posts
- 20,356
Re: Re: Re: The Month of September...Do you remember?
Blue... I live across the Hudson and I have never been there to see the real deal. I couldn't go. My heart ached too much to see and to this day was never there in the spot. I can't go...
Blue Dolphin said:
Blue... I live across the Hudson and I have never been there to see the real deal. I couldn't go. My heart ached too much to see and to this day was never there in the spot. I can't go...
JennyOmanHill
trying hard to be mindful
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2001
- Posts
- 11,151
This day changed my life forever
Even though I am many miles away right now, I am still dealing with the trauma I experienced that dreadful day.
Thanks Sexy One for starting this thread. It will allow me to unload once again all the pain and sorrow I still feel each and every day about the attack.
Life works in strange ways. I was still living in NYC, right dab in the middle of the theatre district, and for the first time ever, three of us decided to do nighttime bowling "downtown" from us on Monday night, September 10th.
We had a fun time (unlimited bowling after paying a cover fee), and by the time we left, we didn't know east from west (or north from south for that matter).
It was such a clear, crisp evening, and we all stood and admired the beauty of our "compass", the World Trade Center, to help us realize which way was "home" (or the local bar we were headed to!). I remember even commenting before we entered the cab that the towers looked so beautiful!
After a few more hours of drinking, I collapsed in bed and went out very quickly, only to be awakened by the constant ringing of my telephone. I only had one line in the living room area, and couldn't actually hear who was leaving message after message on the phone, when I suddenly felt a chill all over, realizing that it must be bad news someone was trying to tell me about.
When I finally heard the strained messages from one of the "bowling buddies", I called him back, only to hear his choked voice telling me we were being attacked, and to put on the t.v.
There I spent hours in disbelief. Hearing at one point that there might be 8 other unaccounted for planes still up in the there, I remember phoning my mom who was three hours earlier in Arizona just to tell her I loved her (thinking Times Square might be another target). The moments I spent watching both towers collapse were the worst moments in my life.
I had spent many happy times at the top of the WTC, mainly with annual office parties. Although I didn't like heights, I remember those times so fondly; the best part of my almost 30 years of working in the downtown law office.
My next memories were sound-related. Living right on a corner where there were 9 Broadway theatres, and with windows looking out on an always busy 8th Avenue, I was hit with SILENCE. All of a sudden there were no cars; no taxis; no people walking the streets. QUIET. Deafening quiet!
One of the many sad memories that have starting to come back to me about this time was seeing a dust covered firetruck and firemen parked on our corner. One fireman just leaned against the truck and cried. I'll never forget that.
Nor will I ever forget the loud noise of our jets booming along the shoreline a few blocks away. Nor will I ever forget crying hysterically in the street when I went to the store, and having my doorman comfort me. I will never forget the smell of the smoke that began to seep into every crevice as the wind blew from the downtown area. I will never forget the many firefighters or police personnel covered with soot, just stopping to rest and clear their lungs.
Our firehouse lost half their staff, and their ladder truck, that day. I just read an article (from The Toronto Star) mentioning that this truck was one of the last ones pulled from the carnage, with most of the men still nearby.
I'll never forget sitting at my local bar, hanging out with the regulars, just hugging each other and trying to make some sense out of it all. I remember helping a visitor contact his family in Virginia as he was stuck in the City until the airports reopened.
I'll never forget the two Irish actors who were starring in a Broadway play across the street from the bar that were "locked in" in downtown area where they were staying. They tried to give blood, but were refused because of the "mad cow" threat from overseas.
No, I suppose I'll never forget any of this, but hopefully, with time, I am learning to cope with the effects and free myself to live more fully.
The strange thing about all this sadness, is that it provided me with the knowledge of LIT (to help me "sleep" and relax). Without LIT I might never have met my Omahaman, and I cannot imagine my life without him.
Even though I am many miles away right now, I am still dealing with the trauma I experienced that dreadful day.
Thanks Sexy One for starting this thread. It will allow me to unload once again all the pain and sorrow I still feel each and every day about the attack.
Life works in strange ways. I was still living in NYC, right dab in the middle of the theatre district, and for the first time ever, three of us decided to do nighttime bowling "downtown" from us on Monday night, September 10th.
We had a fun time (unlimited bowling after paying a cover fee), and by the time we left, we didn't know east from west (or north from south for that matter).
It was such a clear, crisp evening, and we all stood and admired the beauty of our "compass", the World Trade Center, to help us realize which way was "home" (or the local bar we were headed to!). I remember even commenting before we entered the cab that the towers looked so beautiful!
After a few more hours of drinking, I collapsed in bed and went out very quickly, only to be awakened by the constant ringing of my telephone. I only had one line in the living room area, and couldn't actually hear who was leaving message after message on the phone, when I suddenly felt a chill all over, realizing that it must be bad news someone was trying to tell me about.
When I finally heard the strained messages from one of the "bowling buddies", I called him back, only to hear his choked voice telling me we were being attacked, and to put on the t.v.
There I spent hours in disbelief. Hearing at one point that there might be 8 other unaccounted for planes still up in the there, I remember phoning my mom who was three hours earlier in Arizona just to tell her I loved her (thinking Times Square might be another target). The moments I spent watching both towers collapse were the worst moments in my life.
I had spent many happy times at the top of the WTC, mainly with annual office parties. Although I didn't like heights, I remember those times so fondly; the best part of my almost 30 years of working in the downtown law office.
My next memories were sound-related. Living right on a corner where there were 9 Broadway theatres, and with windows looking out on an always busy 8th Avenue, I was hit with SILENCE. All of a sudden there were no cars; no taxis; no people walking the streets. QUIET. Deafening quiet!
One of the many sad memories that have starting to come back to me about this time was seeing a dust covered firetruck and firemen parked on our corner. One fireman just leaned against the truck and cried. I'll never forget that.
Nor will I ever forget the loud noise of our jets booming along the shoreline a few blocks away. Nor will I ever forget crying hysterically in the street when I went to the store, and having my doorman comfort me. I will never forget the smell of the smoke that began to seep into every crevice as the wind blew from the downtown area. I will never forget the many firefighters or police personnel covered with soot, just stopping to rest and clear their lungs.
Our firehouse lost half their staff, and their ladder truck, that day. I just read an article (from The Toronto Star) mentioning that this truck was one of the last ones pulled from the carnage, with most of the men still nearby.
I'll never forget sitting at my local bar, hanging out with the regulars, just hugging each other and trying to make some sense out of it all. I remember helping a visitor contact his family in Virginia as he was stuck in the City until the airports reopened.
I'll never forget the two Irish actors who were starring in a Broadway play across the street from the bar that were "locked in" in downtown area where they were staying. They tried to give blood, but were refused because of the "mad cow" threat from overseas.
No, I suppose I'll never forget any of this, but hopefully, with time, I am learning to cope with the effects and free myself to live more fully.
The strange thing about all this sadness, is that it provided me with the knowledge of LIT (to help me "sleep" and relax). Without LIT I might never have met my Omahaman, and I cannot imagine my life without him.
Blue Dolphin
Back home again
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2001
- Posts
- 20,658
Re: This day changed my life forever
Jenny
I am sat here in England, my eyes brimming with tears.
I truly find it hard to appreciate how you, the people pf New York, and the US managed to get through that day.
You have given me an insight into horror, but, it is an insight I needed to see.
As I said in my posts, I have been to NYC twice since then, it is a wonderful city, with amazing people, and all I can say is
I NYC
thank you again dear friend.
JennyOmanHill said:Even though I am many miles away right now, I am still dealing with the trauma I experienced that dreadful day.
Thanks Sexy One for starting this thread. It will allow me to unload once again all the pain and sorrow I still feel each and every day about the attack.
Life works in strange ways. I was still living in NYC, right dab in the middle of the theatre district, and for the first time ever, three of us decided to do nighttime bowling "downtown" from us on Monday night, September 10th.
We had a fun time (unlimited bowling after paying a cover fee), and by the time we left, we didn't know east from west (or north from south for that matter).
It was such a clear, crisp evening, and we all stood and admired the beauty of our "compass", the World Trade Center, to help us realize which way was "home" (or the local bar we were headed to!). I remember even commenting before we entered the cab that the towers looked so beautiful!
After a few more hours of drinking, I collapsed in bed and went out very quickly, only to be awakened by the constant ringing of my telephone. I only had one line in the living room area, and couldn't actually hear who was leaving message after message on the phone, when I suddenly felt a chill all over, realizing that it must be bad news someone was trying to tell me about.
When I finally heard the strained messages from one of the "bowling buddies", I called him back, only to hear his choked voice telling me we were being attacked, and to put on the t.v.
There I spent hours in disbelief. Hearing at one point that there might be 8 other unaccounted for planes still up in the there, I remember phoning my mom who was three hours earlier in Arizona just to tell her I loved her (thinking Times Square might be another target). The moments I spent watching both towers collapse were the worst moments in my life.
I had spent many happy times at the top of the WTC, mainly with annual office parties. Although I didn't like heights, I remember those times so fondly; the best part of my almost 30 years of working in the downtown law office.
My next memories were sound-related. Living right on a corner where there were 9 Broadway theatres, and with windows looking out on an always busy 8th Avenue, I was hit with SILENCE. All of a sudden there were no cars; no taxis; no people walking the streets. QUIET. Deafening quiet!
One of the many sad memories that have starting to come back to me about this time was seeing a dust covered firetruck and firemen parked on our corner. One fireman just leaned against the truck and cried. I'll never forget that.
Nor will I ever forget the loud noise of our jets booming along the shoreline a few blocks away. Nor will I ever forget crying hysterically in the street when I went to the store, and having my doorman comfort me. I will never forget the smell of the smoke that began to seep into every crevice as the wind blew from the downtown area. I will never forget the many firefighters or police personnel covered with soot, just stopping to rest and clear their lungs.
Our firehouse lost half their staff, and their ladder truck, that day. I just read an article (from The Toronto Star) mentioning that this truck was one of the last ones pulled from the carnage, with most of the men still nearby.
I'll never forget sitting at my local bar, hanging out with the regulars, just hugging each other and trying to make some sense out of it all. I remember helping a visitor contact his family in Virginia as he was stuck in the City until the airports reopened.
I'll never forget the two Irish actors who were starring in a Broadway play across the street from the bar that were "locked in" in downtown area where they were staying. They tried to give blood, but were refused because of the "mad cow" threat from overseas.
No, I suppose I'll never forget any of this, but hopefully, with time, I am learning to cope with the effects and free myself to live more fully.
The strange thing about all this sadness, is that it provided me with the knowledge of LIT (to help me "sleep" and relax). Without LIT I might never have met my Omahaman, and I cannot imagine my life without him.
Jenny
I am sat here in England, my eyes brimming with tears.
I truly find it hard to appreciate how you, the people pf New York, and the US managed to get through that day.
You have given me an insight into horror, but, it is an insight I needed to see.
As I said in my posts, I have been to NYC twice since then, it is a wonderful city, with amazing people, and all I can say is
I
NYCthank you again dear friend.
wanderer2704
Wandering Around as Usual
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2004
- Posts
- 10,591
I started reading this thread and found my eyes almost filling with tears as I read peoples memories of that terrible day.
I remember exatly where I was at the time, like many in England I was at work. I remember a collegue telling me that he had just heard from his wife that a plane had crashed in to the WTC, I didn't believe him. We looked the BBC news website and to our astonishment we discovered it was true. At the time terrorism was not being talked about and it was assumed that it was some terrible accident. Then horror of horrors another tower was struck and suddenly we realised there was some awful attack going on.
Very little work was done that afternoon (don't forget we are 5 hours ahead of NYC) as we all watched terrified at the awful loss and tragedy unfolding before our eyes.
I myself have been too New York a couple of times but the last time was 1980. I have a clear memory of standing at the top of the Empire State building and seeing the WTC - it is very strange to think that I will never see that picture again but it remains vivid in my memory.
My heart goes out to all of you and assure you that I like the huge majority of people in this world will not forget what happened on that day.
I remember exatly where I was at the time, like many in England I was at work. I remember a collegue telling me that he had just heard from his wife that a plane had crashed in to the WTC, I didn't believe him. We looked the BBC news website and to our astonishment we discovered it was true. At the time terrorism was not being talked about and it was assumed that it was some terrible accident. Then horror of horrors another tower was struck and suddenly we realised there was some awful attack going on.
Very little work was done that afternoon (don't forget we are 5 hours ahead of NYC) as we all watched terrified at the awful loss and tragedy unfolding before our eyes.
I myself have been too New York a couple of times but the last time was 1980. I have a clear memory of standing at the top of the Empire State building and seeing the WTC - it is very strange to think that I will never see that picture again but it remains vivid in my memory.
My heart goes out to all of you and assure you that I like the huge majority of people in this world will not forget what happened on that day.
Woodmiester
Recess is over
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2001
- Posts
- 8,024
Being awaken with a call to turn on the TV I sat there watching and wondering like most just what had taken place. As a former firefighter and police officer myself I knew it was going to be a bad day as soon as I saw the pictures and my heart sank wishing I could be there to help and then to see that second jet hit was when I got mad and realized that someone brought it to us this time, and and America as we had known it was forever gone.
[photo removed]
[photo removed]
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Woodmiester
Recess is over
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2001
- Posts
- 8,024
with upmost respect another image
[photo removed]
[photo removed]
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Ladybird
Tart with a heart
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2001
- Posts
- 29,801
Do I remember? How do I forget??
I remember coming home from a drive in the country, and while my (then) hubby sat in front of the tv, I turned on the computer and entered a chat room here at Lit.
A few minutes later my husband came to me and told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Centre. At that stage no one realised it was an act of terrorism. Casually I mentioned it in the chat room, and soon it emptied as people in there turned to their televisions.
The horror unfolded, but I couldn't watch it. I didn't need too to feel the pain and terror of all those affected. I still haven't seen the footage, and I never will.
On a personal note, that day was also my 30th wedding anniversary. The last one that my husband and I spent together.
How can I possibly forget Sept 11 and all that happened?
I remember coming home from a drive in the country, and while my (then) hubby sat in front of the tv, I turned on the computer and entered a chat room here at Lit.
A few minutes later my husband came to me and told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Centre. At that stage no one realised it was an act of terrorism. Casually I mentioned it in the chat room, and soon it emptied as people in there turned to their televisions.
The horror unfolded, but I couldn't watch it. I didn't need too to feel the pain and terror of all those affected. I still haven't seen the footage, and I never will.
On a personal note, that day was also my 30th wedding anniversary. The last one that my husband and I spent together.
How can I possibly forget Sept 11 and all that happened?
Blue Dolphin
Back home again
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2001
- Posts
- 20,658
A combination of two photographs, taken by me, at the WTC upon my second vidit there, in December 2003.
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Mskey
Witchy Woman
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2004
- Posts
- 1,019
Wow....trying to get through all those posts without crying was a pretty futile effort.
Do I remember where I was? I don't think I'll ever forget. I had been playing on the floor of our house with my then 2 year old daughter. We were getting ready for the quick drive around the corner to her babysitters so that I could lay down and sleep a little as I was working 3rd. shift at UPS at the time. I had the TV on PBS in the morning as I always did whenshe was there and all of a sudden my house phone, cell phone and work pagers all went off within a few moments of each other. This was a pretty odd occurance and so I got up to call and check my pager when all of a sudden my phone rang again and my pager went off again within seconds. My heart sank knowing that something must be very wrong for someone to be trying to get ahold of me like that. This time instead of letting my machine pick up the call and screen it I answered. My mother was on the other line telling me to turn on the TV. When I asked her why, she told me that a plane had just flown into the world trade center and they weren't sure if it was an accident or not.
I turned on the television to CNN just in time to watch the second plane fly into the other tower and I literally fell to the floor. I remember very clearly the broadcaster being unable to speak for several minutes and my mother just repeating " Oh dear god, those people." over and over again. My pager and cell phone began going mad a few moments later and my call waiting beeped angrily at me through the call with my mother.
I hung up with her and grabbed my daughter in my arms as I listened to the broadcasters say that there could now be no doubt that we were being attacked, that there were still several planes unaccounted for.
I picked the phone back up and tried to call my oldest daughters school but the line was busy. I called the school board...busy. I finally broke down and called one of the secretaries who was a friend of mine and she told me the school was locked down tight and that I shouldn't try to get her until we were told it was OK.
A moment later my boss at UPS called me and told me we were on a lockdown because the FAA had closed our skies and I wasn't to come into work, but I had a number I needed to call within 24 hrs. and give my employee ID number to so that they could verify that anyone with access to airport runways was accounted for.
By then the other plane had flown into the Pentagon and before long the PA flight had gone down.
I spent that day sitting and watching as people threw themselves from the towers trying to escape the inferno. I stareed in dumbfounded horror as the first tower fell, and then the other followed. I wept until my eyes were dry throughout the day as I saw firefighters and police officers looking like horrible aparitions emerged from piles of rubble weeping at the terrible things they had seen, as I saw the endless stream of families struggling to shove the picture of their loved one infront of the television cameras, hoping against hope that someone would say they had seen them and knowing just as they knew that the countless stream of mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters would never be found alive.
I spent half the day frantically calling my family in NY trying to confirm they were all accounted for. Thankfully they were. I called every military servicemember I knew and checked in with them and finally broke down and cried when the school called me and said that they were sending all the kids home and I could come pick up my daughter. I sat with my husband and my family that night and held onto my children tighter then I ever had before, afraid to have them move away from my side. I cried as I tried to explain to my daughters why such a horrible thing had happened. How could I explain it when I didn't understand myself.
Our world has been forever changed since that day. We now have a terror threat plan in place in our schools. We live in a world now where we actually have to know what to do to protect our kids in the even that such a thing would ever happen again. We live in a world where every package is suspicious and every town a potential target. A world where the innocence of our children and our nation has been stolen from us.
I could never forget Sept. 11, and I hope nobody else will ever forget it either. If we forget we can let it happen again.
Do I remember where I was? I don't think I'll ever forget. I had been playing on the floor of our house with my then 2 year old daughter. We were getting ready for the quick drive around the corner to her babysitters so that I could lay down and sleep a little as I was working 3rd. shift at UPS at the time. I had the TV on PBS in the morning as I always did whenshe was there and all of a sudden my house phone, cell phone and work pagers all went off within a few moments of each other. This was a pretty odd occurance and so I got up to call and check my pager when all of a sudden my phone rang again and my pager went off again within seconds. My heart sank knowing that something must be very wrong for someone to be trying to get ahold of me like that. This time instead of letting my machine pick up the call and screen it I answered. My mother was on the other line telling me to turn on the TV. When I asked her why, she told me that a plane had just flown into the world trade center and they weren't sure if it was an accident or not.
I turned on the television to CNN just in time to watch the second plane fly into the other tower and I literally fell to the floor. I remember very clearly the broadcaster being unable to speak for several minutes and my mother just repeating " Oh dear god, those people." over and over again. My pager and cell phone began going mad a few moments later and my call waiting beeped angrily at me through the call with my mother.
I hung up with her and grabbed my daughter in my arms as I listened to the broadcasters say that there could now be no doubt that we were being attacked, that there were still several planes unaccounted for.
I picked the phone back up and tried to call my oldest daughters school but the line was busy. I called the school board...busy. I finally broke down and called one of the secretaries who was a friend of mine and she told me the school was locked down tight and that I shouldn't try to get her until we were told it was OK.
A moment later my boss at UPS called me and told me we were on a lockdown because the FAA had closed our skies and I wasn't to come into work, but I had a number I needed to call within 24 hrs. and give my employee ID number to so that they could verify that anyone with access to airport runways was accounted for.
By then the other plane had flown into the Pentagon and before long the PA flight had gone down.
I spent that day sitting and watching as people threw themselves from the towers trying to escape the inferno. I stareed in dumbfounded horror as the first tower fell, and then the other followed. I wept until my eyes were dry throughout the day as I saw firefighters and police officers looking like horrible aparitions emerged from piles of rubble weeping at the terrible things they had seen, as I saw the endless stream of families struggling to shove the picture of their loved one infront of the television cameras, hoping against hope that someone would say they had seen them and knowing just as they knew that the countless stream of mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters would never be found alive.
I spent half the day frantically calling my family in NY trying to confirm they were all accounted for. Thankfully they were. I called every military servicemember I knew and checked in with them and finally broke down and cried when the school called me and said that they were sending all the kids home and I could come pick up my daughter. I sat with my husband and my family that night and held onto my children tighter then I ever had before, afraid to have them move away from my side. I cried as I tried to explain to my daughters why such a horrible thing had happened. How could I explain it when I didn't understand myself.
Our world has been forever changed since that day. We now have a terror threat plan in place in our schools. We live in a world now where we actually have to know what to do to protect our kids in the even that such a thing would ever happen again. We live in a world where every package is suspicious and every town a potential target. A world where the innocence of our children and our nation has been stolen from us.
I could never forget Sept. 11, and I hope nobody else will ever forget it either. If we forget we can let it happen again.
Icey*Fire
PG #36
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2003
- Posts
- 25,667
Thank you for starting this thread...I think we need a new one each year in remembrance. Though I am sure no one can ever forget, I know that I shall never forget.
I was in the hospital very ill on that day, I looked up at the tv and thought it was a movie, it was so unreal, and then I just cried and cried saying prayers for all those people and their families.
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/NYG/30451.jpg
I was in the hospital very ill on that day, I looked up at the tv and thought it was a movie, it was so unreal, and then I just cried and cried saying prayers for all those people and their families.
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/NYG/30451.jpg
wanderer2704 said:
I like you Wanderer was in work in Dublin.. about to take a mortgage client in for an interview when word filtered through about the first plane. I had to go ahead with the meeting but once it was done, I along with my colleagues just sat glued to the radio. It was like listening to (and later watching on tv) a Hollywood script.... no one could have ever dreamt of such an attack.
I cant even comprehend the kind of evil mind someone had to even come up with such a plan.
In January 2003 my husband and I visted New York. We were drawn to Ground Zero as we both felt the need to pay our respects. It was completely and utterly incomprehensible to imagine the scale of the carnage, the horror, the terror, the fear.
I was saddened and somewhat sickened to see however the hawkers selling momentoes and cheap tours around the site. I felt it really cheapened the atmosphere and reduced it in some ways to nothing more than a stop off on a tourist trail.
We went to the top of the Empire State Building a few days later and the thought struck me as we stood and looked down at Ground Zero.... what horrors were those poor people facing when they decided that to jump from that height was a better option than staying put???
We will never ever forget 9/11 .. and the horrors that have taken place in Beslan, Russia in recent days only service as a grim reminder of how cruel and evil certain minds continue to be.
Blue Dolphin
Back home again
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2001
- Posts
- 20,658
Sao my dear friendSaoirse said:I like you Wanderer was in work in Dublin.. about to take a mortgage client in for an interview when word filtered through about the first plane. I had to go ahead with the meeting but once it was done, I along with my colleagues just sat glued to the radio. It was like listening to (and later watching on tv) a Hollywood script.... no one could have ever dreamt of such an attack.
I cant even comprehend the kind of evil mind someone had to even come up with such a plan.
In January 2003 my husband and I visted New York. We were drawn to Ground Zero as we both felt the need to pay our respects. It was completely and utterly incomprehensible to imagine the scale of the carnage, the horror, the terror, the fear.
I was saddened and somewhat sickened to see however the hawkers selling momentoes and cheap tours around the site. I felt it really cheapened the atmosphere and reduced it in some ways to nothing more than a stop off on a tourist trail.
We went to the top of the Empire State Building a few days later and the thought struck me as we stood and looked down at Ground Zero.... what horrors were those poor people facing when they decided that to jump from that height was a better option than staying put???
We will never ever forget 9/11 .. and the horrors that have taken place in Beslan, Russia in recent days only service as a grim reminder of how cruel and evil certain minds continue to be.
when we re visited in December 2003, the hawkers had all gone, and the fence around the church had been cleared. But the atmosphere was the same, it always will be
wanderer2704
Wandering Around as Usual
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2004
- Posts
- 10,591
Saoirse said:I like you Wanderer was in work in Dublin.. about to take a mortgage client in for an interview when word filtered through about the first plane. I had to go ahead with the meeting but once it was done, I along with my colleagues just sat glued to the radio. It was like listening to (and later watching on tv) a Hollywood script.... no one could have ever dreamt of such an attack.
I cant even comprehend the kind of evil mind someone had to even come up with such a plan.
In January 2003 my husband and I visted New York. We were drawn to Ground Zero as we both felt the need to pay our respects. It was completely and utterly incomprehensible to imagine the scale of the carnage, the horror, the terror, the fear.
I was saddened and somewhat sickened to see however the hawkers selling momentoes and cheap tours around the site. I felt it really cheapened the atmosphere and reduced it in some ways to nothing more than a stop off on a tourist trail.
We went to the top of the Empire State Building a few days later and the thought struck me as we stood and looked down at Ground Zero.... what horrors were those poor people facing when they decided that to jump from that height was a better option than staying put???
We will never ever forget 9/11 .. and the horrors that have taken place in Beslan, Russia in recent days only service as a grim reminder of how cruel and evil certain minds continue to be.
Sao I think that it is so true that we should not forget what happened in Russia, or Madrid or anywhere else where such horrific things happen.
pureromnce
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2002
- Posts
- 175
I flew home early the morning of the 11th. I landed around 2:00 am in Newark, and watched the NY Skyline as I usually do from the back of the car on my way north.
I woke up a little after 9:00 am, started getting ready for work, and heard the voices on the stereo over the running water. I turned the TV on and watched.
I am fortunate in that I only knew one person - on the plane that crashed in PA. All of the towns around me lost 5-10 people, as where I live in Northern NJ is along a rail line that leads to the financial district in Manhattan.
Maybe it’s human nature to want to forget – and maybe it’s hard to imagine just how big those building were if you’ve never seen them or been to NYC, but there is still a big hole in the Skyline, a big hole in the ground and a big hole in a lot of hearts.
http://www.showngoperformance.com/Menu/Menu/Lightsweb.jpg
Dave
I woke up a little after 9:00 am, started getting ready for work, and heard the voices on the stereo over the running water. I turned the TV on and watched.
I am fortunate in that I only knew one person - on the plane that crashed in PA. All of the towns around me lost 5-10 people, as where I live in Northern NJ is along a rail line that leads to the financial district in Manhattan.
Maybe it’s human nature to want to forget – and maybe it’s hard to imagine just how big those building were if you’ve never seen them or been to NYC, but there is still a big hole in the Skyline, a big hole in the ground and a big hole in a lot of hearts.
http://www.showngoperformance.com/Menu/Menu/Lightsweb.jpg
Dave
JennyOmanHill
trying hard to be mindful
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2001
- Posts
- 11,151
It's actually comforting for me reading all the comments in this thread as the anniversary date approaches.
More memories have flooded my mind: I remember it took me the entire day to track down my friends who worked in the area. There was one friend I didn't reach until very late that night. She worked a few blocks away, and a group of them went outside as the initial report they heard was the tower was on fire. They actually saw the second plane hit. She and her coworkers were just frozen with disbelief.
However, suddenly the first tower collapsed, and they had to run for their lives as the billowing smoke and debris overcame them. She is still trying to deal with the horrors that she witnessed as she lay in a doorway and the daylight turned into complete darkness.
Fortunately, she did survive, and is still working a few blocks away.
http://www.september11news.com/7SeriesAP1MOAnnivOct11Gulnara_Samoilova2.jpg
Thank you to all who endured this firsthand, and still have the strength to believe the good in people.
More memories have flooded my mind: I remember it took me the entire day to track down my friends who worked in the area. There was one friend I didn't reach until very late that night. She worked a few blocks away, and a group of them went outside as the initial report they heard was the tower was on fire. They actually saw the second plane hit. She and her coworkers were just frozen with disbelief.
However, suddenly the first tower collapsed, and they had to run for their lives as the billowing smoke and debris overcame them. She is still trying to deal with the horrors that she witnessed as she lay in a doorway and the daylight turned into complete darkness.
Fortunately, she did survive, and is still working a few blocks away.
http://www.september11news.com/7SeriesAP1MOAnnivOct11Gulnara_Samoilova2.jpg
Thank you to all who endured this firsthand, and still have the strength to believe the good in people.
Blue Dolphin
Back home again
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2001
- Posts
- 20,658
JennyOmanHill said:It's actually comforting for me reading all the comments in this thread as the anniversary date approaches.
More memories have flooded my mind: I remember it took me the entire day to track down my friends who worked in the area. There was one friend I didn't reach until very late that night. She worked a few blocks away, and a group of them went outside as the initial report they heard was the tower was on fire. They actually saw the second plane hit. She and her coworkers were just frozen with disbelief.
However, suddenly the first tower collapsed, and they had to run for their lives as the billowing smoke and debris overcame them. She is still trying to deal with the horrors that she witnessed as she lay in a doorway and the daylight turned into complete darkness.
Fortunately, she did survive, and is still working a few blocks away.
Thank you to all who endured this firsthand, and still have the strength to believe the good in people.
Thank you again Jenny
The memories are bad enough for us Brits, but for the people there, the populace of your great city and State, they must be horrendous.
I purchased a CD rom, proceeds to those left behind, that contains 1500 photographs, I have yet to see them all, I can never get to the end, it is so hard to look.
But we have to remember, we have to stand up and be counted, get the message across, that no matter what the evil ones do, we will still be there, standing side by side, in the name of liberty and freedom.
