9/11 - Where were you?

[kc261]

On another forum, a person started a "where were you?" thread. This is my reply. I thought I'd share it here too.

I was asleep. A friend called me when they saw it on TV because my then-husband worked 2 days a week in NY, and sometimes in the WTC. My friend first asked if my husband was in NY that day. Yes. Then asked if he was in the WTC that day. I didn't know. Then said I might want to turn on the TV because a plane had just crashed in to the WTC. I imagined a tiny plane that basically bounced off the building like had happened many years before.

So I went and turned on the TV, and see pictures of the pentagon. That was one of the most unreal moments of my life, because I knew my friend was more than intelligent and educated enough to know the difference, but it took me several minutes to wrap my brain around the concept that BOTH buildings had been hit by planes.

It was HOURS before I knew if my husband was alive or not. I was in shock and stayed glued to the TV all day. Finally my then 4 year old daughter asked why they were knocking down so many buildings. Realizing she could not understand it was the same thing over and over jolted me out of it a little bit.

My husband made it home the next day, physically fine, but in some ways I feel like he never did come home. Those images that [someone from the other forum] mentioned of people jumping out of the windows...he saw that in person. He heard & felt when the towers collapsed. He ran for his life. Stuff like that changes a person. Six months later he announced he wanted a divorce. He denies it, but I believe it had very much to do with the mental & emotional trauma we both went through that day.

It is not all bad. My ex never liked snakes or any animals for that matter. I just got remarried last week, and my new husband is almost as into the snakes as I am.

[Spaniard]

One of those days I'll never forget. I was in High School, 4th period, just got out of Economics when I heard someone mention a plane hit the WTC. I thought the kid was just being an idiot but after walking through the hallways you could tell the staff was preparing for some chaotic events.

I went home with a few friends, most of the seniors left that day to watch the news. We were watching the live feed when we saw the second plane hit; it was so surreal we all just sorta stared at the tv in silence.

My brother works in the city and had to walk home over the bridge that day, luckily he was ok. I had a lot of friends in school lose family members that day, definitely one of those events that gets etched into your memory.

[Freakie_frog]

I was in college in Organic Chem. lab when the plane struck the tower. When the towers fell I was in Calculus. The worst part of this was my roommates at the time were the sons of the Jordanian ambassador to the U.S back then.. need less to say I had some very interesting people stop by the house to "talk" in the days following. I remember the fear and shock I felt seeing the tower go.

God rest the Souls of the people that lost their lives that day and be with our troops as they seek justice for this act.

[frankykeno]

Our youngest was only about 5 months old and I was up tending to him, my husband was sleeping as he was on 2nd shift back then, just a typical day really. I flipped on the television and watched as we all did with growing horror, incredible sadness and shock at the events unfolding on that tv screen.

I remember screaming to Mike to wake up and running to grab up the baby into my arms. I just needed in some deep instinctual way to have my baby safe in my arms. My thoughts raced to my older kids in school and to all those other children that had just lost a parent in the horror of those buildings coming down.

I'm a Canadian by birth, married to an American. My heart hurt so much for the citizens of my new country but also swelled with such pride at the actions of the country of my birth. That awful day, without question for the safety of it's own citizens and it's airspace, Canada took in well over 200 flights that had been destined for American airports - any of which could have been carrying more terrorists. I am still proud of that to this day and so proud of my new American "family" that came together in their shock and grief to support those more directly affected by this evil moment in history.

Recently Mike and I were watching some old episodes of NYPD Blue. Even after all these years, seeing a shot of the towers in the background, makes the hair stand up on my arms.

[Shadera]

I'd run from California all the way to WV in two days in my tractor trailer, so I could be home for my stepfather's open heart surgery. My family was in the process of moving from the southern part of the state to the northern. My brother also drove truck so he was in Chicago I think it was on this day 7 years ago. Everyone else was working, so I elected to stay with dad for a week or so until I had to get back out on the road.

I brought him home the day before 9-11, and was so worried on that morning that the terrorist attacks would be too much for his weakened heart to take. My mom and brother were unable to get through to us via phone, and I remember thinking how I would have gone crazy were I out on the road at some truckstop and unable to get hold of anyone.

During all that going on, I went out to smoke a cigarette on the balcony. I heard a plane that sounded like it was flying really low and had those engines gunned. I looked around but couldn't see it. I found out later when I bought some magazines out on the road that the flight path of the Shanksville flight took it right over where I was and my blood went cold that I could've been hearing one of those last few minutes those people had.

I hope their souls are at rest, and that their families can find peace. They will never be forgotten.

I always go to the Shanksville site on the anniversary to pay my respects.

[FIREball]

I was asleep, still in college..changed my eyes to things

Today, I am on shift as a firefighter

[Freakie_frog]

NEVER FORGET!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW8puRqE4Sc

[kc261]

I had a lot of friends in school lose family members that day, definitely one of those events that gets etched into your memory.

Every time 9/11 comes around again, it is hard for me. It helps to hear stories from other people and to be reminded that while I may have lost a marriage, so many people lost so much more. Not that I ever forget, but having it shoved in my face helps.

The worst part of this was my roommates at the time were the sons of the Jordanian ambassador to the U.S back then.. need less to say I had some very interesting people stop by the house to "talk" in the days following.

That must have been quite... interesting.

God rest the Souls of the people that lost their lives that day and be with our troops as they seek justice for this act.

x2!

Recently Mike and I were watching some old episodes of NYPD Blue. Even after all these years, seeing a shot of the towers in the background, makes the hair stand up on my arms.

Me too! Well, I'm not sure about my hairs standing up, but it definitely gives me a weird feeling. When there is just a brief shot, I sometimes rewind to look at it again. Sorta like pressing a bruise to see how much it hurts.

[dsirkle]

I was watching a show on TV and the show was interrupted with "breaking news" and a reporter was standing in front of the WTC talking about how a jetliner had flown into the building when suddenly the 2nd jetliner appeared on camera behind him and also hit the WTC. The reporter was totally dumbfounded and started babbling having totally lost his composure. I was likewise stunned by this.

[Ladydragon]

I was home with our first born, he was 4 1/2 years old. We were turning on the tv to watch some of his early morning tv shows, which weren't there, they were focused on the first tower being hit. My husband was working at JFK airport. He saw FBI running around with guns drawn as they were chasing some people on foot and in vehicles. Needless to say him and his work partner left the airport to head home. My one sister-in-law worked right across the street and was not allowed out of her building. She watched and heard people jumping out of the towers. I dont think anyone is the same after that day, whether you were right there or just watched it unfold on tv.