Thursday, September 11, 2008

September 11th Tribute

Do you remember what you were doing?


48 comments:

Larissa said...

I, like most, will never forget the EXACT MOMENT I heard about the incident... in my stupid little Hyundai that was NOT worth the 6G I had paid for it, on my way to another day of teaching preschool... while my skeevy boyfriend sat on his ass at MY house where he may as well have been SQUATTING waiting to leave for his scheduled ATM installations that day.

Ha. The *only* thing that I think may have come out of 9/11 that is humorous? He lost ALL financial backing for his business because of it and had to file bankruptcy. NOT fun at the time, but considering looking back NOW?!? CLASSIC.

Simply Shannon said...

7 years later and one simple photo can bring it all right back like it was yesterday. I feel like there is a giant ball of lead in my stomach and my eyes are brimming with tears.
I don't usually think about that day because life would be too depressing if I did...but at the same time I don't ever want to forget.
Thank you for sharing and reminding me why it is important to remember.

Gettysburg Mom said...

I lived in Upstate NY at the time, I will never forget driving North and tens upon tens upon tens of State Police troopers were travelling south to NYC. It was eery.

Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels said...

I remember exactly what I was doing. I was in Italy, at my parents', and I was taking a nap. I woke up with my father talking to my mom saying that someone had bombed the WTC or something. I got up and saw the scenes on the TV and my knees felt weak, because my husband had just flown through NY the day before. And then I saw the attack playin back on the TV, and I just wanted to cry. I tried to keep my daughter entertained and not looking at the TV, because the atmosphere was so sad that a toddler would have undoubtedly picked up on it too.

I am not an American, but the mere thought of what happened that day makes me incredibly sad. It was a world-wide tragedy I didn't think I would witness in my lifetime.

t said...

Yes....I was at work and never regained focus for the rest of the day. My kids were 1, 3,5, 16, 17 and I just remember staring at the TV all night like many of us.

My brother was always in Manhattan at his corporate office in the Towers but that day he had an event to go to at his daughter's school. I had no idea and couldn't get him on the phone because he had it off. His reply to all my texts hours later? "No worries". UGH.

I dated a wonderful guy from Manhattan for quite awhile a couple years post 9/11. His office was in Tower 2. He's been with this firm 15 years and always was there around 7 because he's a work-aholic. That day, he missed a connecting subway and ended up taking his time getting in. He walked thru the doors amidst the mayhem...not knowing what happened. Then he ran.

He lost almost his entire firm that day. For two years while we dated, I went to NYC to just have "a day" with him....we'd do nothing. Now he plays golf that day. I guess everyone deals differently.

I think we forget too soon....how fast time goes by. Great post.

Jennifer said...

I will never forget that day--the fear was heightened for me b/c my sister was flying out of NYC that morning (same time as the planes that were hijacked) and there were hours that I couldn't get in touch w/ it her. It was pure terror.

Merrie said...

Hard to watch this morning, but I don't mind the tears. I'm more emotional about it now than I was the day of -- I posted about that on my blog.

jaime said...

Yes, of course I remember...every minute of that day. Too much to even type...don't even like to think about it but we can't ever forget it either.

Nice tribute Sue, God Bless America.

Jen said...

Like the back of my hand...I don't think we will ever forget.

Former Fat Chick said...

I was home watching the Today show when they showed it LIVE, I picked up the phone and called my Sis Coco and we stayed on the phone watching it all morning long, in shock. I wanted to pick the kids up from school, but thought it would be disrubtive, just to find out they had watched the coverage all day at the Elementary school! *ugh*

McMommy said...

One of the most frightening moments of my life. I was at work. On the second floor of my building was a major local news organization. We went there to watch all the tv monitors. It was the loudest moment(s) yet most quiet moment(s) ever in that room. I know that makes no sense, but it really it does. In my head, at least.

I can't find my blog said...

Doing my daughter's hair for school picture day. My son was almost 2 and I was VERY pregnant with Boy 2.

A New Yorker said...

Of course. I posted about being in the city that day. Thanks for making a post as well!!!

Anonymous said...

Remember - How could I forget?

I was working at a resort in Lake Placid NY when it happened. The phones were crazy - people from NYC were calling to see if it was safe up here, 5-6 hours away. Most of them literally got their keys and jumped into their car and started driving! It was a crazy day! We took turns running up into one of the suites to watch the action on tv.

Frightening that this can occur in the world and people can hate a country so much, it'll kill innocent citizens.

Sheri said...

Working at Wal Mart. The guy I was flirting with came in and told me a plane just crashed. WM dropped their commercial stuff and put on CNN. Watched it all day. My best friend lived in DC and was getting married 5 days later. I remember calling her to make sure she was ok (gov't job) and her bursting into tears and telling me she planned for everything to go wrong except a terrorist attack!

Keely said...

Laying in bed, half-asleep, thinking the guys on the radio had REALLY bad taste in humour that day.
Then I realized they weren't joking and spent the rest of the day gaping at the tv.

Anonymous said...

God yes, I remember. I didn't have kids yet and my husband was away in Missouri visiting his great aunt. He called me in the morning and told me to turn on the TV. I saw the second plane hit. My husband was stuck in rural Missouri and had to take a grayhound bus across the country back home. I had friends who were killed that day.

Ali said...

I was at work (in AR) when it happened. I couldn't believe it. The footage from that day still brings me to tears. My car was almost on empty but I couldn't find any gas stations that didn't have a line a mile long. My sister had to take me to work for a couple of days.

Wendy said...

Hard letting my kids out of my sight that day. I felt much more vulnerable, as did we all. Great video, great reminder -- we all need it.

Athena said...

I was asleep after being out dancing the night before. I woke up, hungover, to the incessant ringing of the phone. When the panicked voice on the other end told me to turn on the TV, my stomach dropped. It was 7 years ago, but it feels like yesterday.

sassy stephanie said...

Sorry. I can't watch it. Not because I don't care, not because I don't want to remember. But because it is forever etched in my mind.

I sat on the floor with an infant in my lap, clutching her to me, wondering what the future of the world will be for my precious little one and all those that grow up with her. I prayed that the children of today would be allowed to grow up with the same innocence we were fortunate to have. Sigh.

Blessings From Above said...

I was at work when I first heard about the planes hitting the twin towers, when I heard the towers fell, when I heard the Pentagon was under attack, and when I heard yet another plane went down in a field. I remember coming home and hugging my husband and daughter so tight as we all fell to our knees in prayer.

Thank you for sharing this video.

3boys247 said...

I was booking airline flights at Cheap Tickets. I posted the whole story here..http://3boys247.blogspot.com/

That video was so moving. It really brings it all back. All the thoughts, memories and tears.

Julie D said...

Of course I remember. How could anyone ever forget where they were when they heard the news or first saw the pictures?

To this day, it breaks my heart into pieces to see those planes flying into the buildings. I watched it live and couldn't believe my eyes then. I still can't.

God bless everyone who lost their lives that day, and the families who were left behind.

Anonymous said...

I was sitting in Starbuck with two other moms...meeting one for the first time. One lady got a call from her husband telling us the Pentagon just got hit. My husband and my new friend's husband both worked at the Pentagon! But thankfully, they were both out of town at meetings/conferences.

We both scattered to get home to call our families to tell them our husbands were okay. No phone service for the day. It was friends calling us that got the news out to other people.

It was the longest day of my life. It brought me closer to God, closer to family, and cling to my husband for days. People in the DC area stopped the rushing around and actually got to know their neighbors. It actually helped the area become more of a community.

Scarlet O'Kara said...

I will never forget...too many memories etched on my heart.

NoneYa said...

I was in eighth grade band class and they put the entire school on lockdown. My mom picked me up from school that day and told me that our country had been attacked..

Now that I have tears running down my face. I feel like there is a huge ball in my throat.

I can't believe it's been 7 years..

Tenakim said...

I, too, posted about my recollection... like many... I think it's good to remember... even though, I think some want to forget.

Southern Gal said...

Thank you Sue, that was very appropriate for today.

Wendi said...

I thought I could watch and not cry anymore.
That my friend did not happen.
It gets me every time.
Thanks for sharing and reminding us not to forget.

It was Claire's first day of preschool. I dropped her off and headed home. I heard it on the radio. I got home and watched the news. All the errands and plans for the day were completely forgotten. I just sat in front of the tv...numb. I held my family a little tighter that night. In the days, weeks, and months that followed...I was more proud than ever to be an American. I still am.

LdybugSammi said...

what a day. I dont think we'll ever forget. I just hope our kids never have to expierence something like that day....

Miss Lisa said...

I was driving my oldest to preschool listening to the classical station and it broke in that ONE tower was hit and heard the next tower being hit LIVE. I seriously thought it was some 'War of the Worlds' thing and not real. it did not seem real. I went into the the preschool and mentioned it to other moms--no one even knew. And then I went back in my car and heard the tower fell. I was shell shocked.

Anonymous said...

I was walking my class down the hallway to the cafeteria for lunch. Another teacher stopped me and told me in the hallway. I remember wanting to cry, but I had to put this brave face on because we were instructed not to tell the students (administration wanted their parents to talk with them). We had to pretend like nothing happened. Several parents came to pick their children up and take them home. I think if I had kids at the time, I would have done the same thing. I am going to post this You Tube as well. Thank you for sharing. The background song has always been one of my favorites.

Bex said...

Like many I posted about this today, too. September 11 was the most horrific day I've ever had. My baby brother was there and I was on the phone with him right before the second plane hit.

The video was very moving. Thanks for sharing it.

Unknown said...

I remember and I will never forget...

Ann Harrison said...

I will never forget.
It's always with me. I hate it.

Southern Gal said...

Hey Sue! I linked your blog in my post for today (not that anyone reads it), & answered your question. Your tribute & question really made me remember that day in detail. Thank you

Lisa-licious said...

The lump in my throat arrived when I first pulled up your blog and saw the "play" button on the video. I wasn't sure if I should play the video. The wracking sobs quickly ensued as the images and music tore into my heart. What a tragedy...I am going to find and install those flags we all had wedged in our car windows in the days that followed this abomination...how can we not continue to fight the war on terrorism? Are we even doing enough? It is scary to think that this could happen in the first place, much less, happen again. God Bless America.

scargosun said...

I was in my office. I had the same reation many people had, it was an accident.
Until the next plane hit. The company I was working for at the time was a private HR firm. We did some recruiting and head hunting. Over half our business and many of my boss' friends were in those towers.

jill jill bo bill said...

I was in class. Left and went to pick up all my kids and did not let them out of my sight for 2 days.

I am so proud to be an American. God Bless the USA.

Melissa said...

It's one of the only days that every American can tell you what they were doing that day. It was my daughter's first day of preschool. I can't believe it's been 7 years.

Jenni said...

I was holding my 4 week old baby and watching the sky for falling planes leaving Logan Airport.

Lipstick said...

Riding in the car with Mr. Lipstick. He was scheduled to fly that afternoon. We heard it on the radio and we thought it was an awful joke by some stupid DJs.

Thanks for sharing the video Happy Hour Sue.

Anonymous said...

My husband and I were stranded in Punta Mita, Mexico, with my hormones and my breast pump. Meanwhile, our four-month old son was here in Dallas with our fantastic Maria. When Maria and I found out the borders to our respective countries were closed, we both threw up, as did our mothers. And getting permission to carry a week's worth of breast milk onto the plane back to Dallas, in a cooler of dry ice, was a Herculean feat. Am still waiting for my equanimity to return.

oº˚ Homeschool Mom˚ºo said...

I will never forget that day. I cried through the whole thing. Great Post -- Much Love

Lisa-licious said...

Just so you know...I went on a search of my house, and I found those flags that you wedge into your car windows, and some of my kids window crayons that TRASHED the windows of our home, but work GREAT on the back windows of SUVs...I put the words "7 years ago today...9/11" in red, white, and blue, and you just cannot believe the reaction! Honks from everyone, everywhere we went! My kids were amazed, though it is hard to tell them the real story just yet... Thank you, Sue, for reminding all of us just how much we have to be thankful for, and what we all must cherish and protect...our freedom! You are my blogger idol!

The Microblogologist said...

I was a freshman in college, it was before I got my car so my mom drove me to school and we didn't have the radio on nor did we watch TV before leaving. I had to go in to listen to a guest speaker so Mom waited in the lounge area with a book. I don't really remember what his talk was about just that he kept bringing up terrorism and it didn't make any sense to me since that was not what the course was about.

They kept bringing up how they knew we would want to watch the news and they were working on getting a television for us. I was so confused since I had no idea what had happened and why in the world they assumed we would want to watch the news. They did not have a cable hookup or something and ended up taping some of the news. When they put the tape on at first I thought it was fake. First a weird talk, then this tape of what is supposedly news, I thought it was some weird mind game thing, I mean it was a humanities course. As the video played and they didn't quiz us on it the realization dawned on me, this was real. I walked out in a daze and told my mother.

I went home, watched the news until I had to go to work as a deli clerk. The whole time I was at work we listened to the radio. Normally we would not be allowed to have a radio out by the counter, but of course everything was different that day. Customers were nicer and not as rushed, they would loiter to listen with us, our bosses didn't yell at us to get back to work, it was surreal. I got home and was glued to the television, watching and praying as they searched the rubble for life. I kept my vigil until I was exhausted. I remember getting more depressed as time passed and they were not finding anyone and got to the point where they stopped the search because there was no way anyone could have made it that long. I think that might have been the worst part for me, knowing that there was no hope for more survivers. Being able to focus on the hope for more people coming out alive was what sustained me.

I still find the entire thing incomprehensible. It is hard to believe it has been 7 years now, watching that video made it seem like it was just yesterday. Thank you for that, this is the kind of event that should not be buried and forgotten. We need to remember what happened and do whatever we can to prevent it from happening again.

Karen

Michael from dadcation.com said...

On the 51st floor of the Bank of America tower in Atlanta. Needless to say, we were evacuated by 9:45 that morning. Then, I got a haircut and watched coverage while the barber cut. I actually stayed away from the TV after that. I spent several hours on the phone with friends and family instead.