Where were you the morning of September 11, 2001?
What were you doing?
I am sure that most of you have vivid recollections of exactly what you were doing and where you were when you heard the awful news.
I am no exception.
It was a beautiful morning.
It was Claire's first day of preschool.
I took tons of photos and got lots of kisses before finally pulling myself away.
I heard on the radio that the World Trade Center was on fire.
I arrived home a few minutes later to watch the whole tragic story unfold.
I had planned to run errands, grocery shop and clean.
Nothing got done.
I just sat on the couch unable to move.
I remember feeling numb.
I remember thinking this isn't happening.
But it was and it did.
I remember rushing to the school to pick up my kids.
Not knowing what was next.
I felt the need to have them near me.
In the days, weeks, and months that followed I remember hugging my family a little tighter.
I remember taking nothing for granted.
And I remember the pride I felt in being an American.
I hope that as we reflect on that September morning we will remember how we felt.
And we will never forget.
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26 comments:
What a great idea for a post!! Living in Canada, I almost forgot about the anniversary. THanks for the reminder...
I definitely remember....I wrote a blog about my day. I was only 14 and I still remember vividly what happened.
I felt a surge of American Pride after that. I am a military Brat, so seeing the whole nation gather around and lift others up in time of need made me extremely proud.
I'm still extremely proud of the this country and what it stands for.
If you haven't listened to "Where were you (when the world stopped turning)" by Alan Jackson or "Have you forgotten" by Darryl Worley...I think today is a good day to listen to those, it makes them that much more meaningful!
I heard it on the radio as I was driving to work. All I heard was something about a plane going into the World Trade Center and well I TOTALLY freaked b/c you know what? I worked at the WTC in Dallas!!
But I quickly realized they were talking about the one in NYC instead. I went on to work but they evacuated the building by 10 a.m. so I too sat infront of the couch watching it all unfold before my disbelieving eyes.
Tears and prayers and numbness...
Who could forget?
I was at home with G, she was just a baby & Rob had taken B to preschool. I always watch morning news shows anyway & already had it on the Today Show when everything started to happen.
It was a very frightening day & I just felt very unsafe.
In this country, we've always been very secure & never had to worry about invasions or terrorism. It was a very eye-opening experience & one I hope we never have to live through again.
Thanks for remembering.
I was standing in front of a room of 30 9th graders trying really hard not to cry. I made it until they did the pledge of allegience over the load speaker. And then I lost it. Mrs. C standing in front of all of my students sobbing.
What a hard day.
I will never forget, either. I was working out at the gym, and I had to figure out how to get back to my appt without missing anything.
We all didn't know what to do.
It made all of us more proud to be American's, didn't it? That was the silver lining in all the tragedy. And I'm glad you hugged your family tighter, too.
I blogged my experiences, too. Thanks for sharing yours.
I wrote about this today too. That was such a difficult day. I was teaching and since we live close enough to NY that people in our area commute there, we were directly impacted in our school.
It is so important to remember not only the loses we suffered that day, but the unity and patriotism we gained.
I was in my classroom. My assitant told me that the two towers had been hit. I was clueless as to what was going on. I was like why would anyone want to do that? Then during specials, all the staff was gathered around the tv trying to figure out what was going on.
Today my school all wore red,white,and blue and we had a "patriotic" assembly. The band from the high school came over and put on a mini-concert for us. I love that this school went the extra mile and did something special for today.
Most of my kids that I teach were born that day and don't understand. It was touching (and difficult) to try and explain to them the significance.
I was home. Pregnant with Gracie. I still feel overwhelmed when I think about it.
Overwhelmingly sad and overwhelmingly grateful at the same time.
It really hit me today when we observed a moment of silence as a school in honor of the men and women who died as a result of the attacks. Today I was sitting in a room of high school juniors, who are my students. What's strange, is the fact that I was in high school when 9/11 happened. I remember being in my civics and law class watching CNN for the entire period in complete disbelief.
I am really glad you posted about this.
I remember that day so well. I echo your sentiments...I felt the need to hug my little family tighter. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to see everyone flying their flags in the days afterward. I felt the pride you described at being an American.
Take a look at my blog today it tells all about my memories of 9/11
I too remember the feelings of anguish in a way I had never before (or never since) felt. That mothering, protective instinct certainly kicks into overdrive during times like that.
Just sort of hated that it was my husband's birthday as it always seems to put a damper on my feelings each year even though we try to celebrate his special day.
Thanks for the tribute though.
Emma turned one on the 18th and I was sitting on the couch nursing her for the last time. I was already watching the Today show, and I saw it happen. I just didn't know what I was watching. I didn't even understand. I thought about it all day today. Thanks for posting about it.
Emma turned one on the 18th and I was sitting on the couch nursing her for the last time. I was already watching the Today show, and I saw it happen. I just didn't know what I was watching. I didn't even understand. I thought about it all day today. Thanks for posting about it.
Oh I remember it in vivid detail. It is our generations version of Where were you when Kennedy was shot?
I remember my husband calling and saying his building was being evacuated and he'd try to make it home but the city was jammed. I just sat, praying that he made it home safely. A scary, scary day.
I was at work. We heard about it when a utility worker came to check meters and told us that a plane had crashed into the WTC. I couldn't figure out how anyone could be so stupid that they couldn't see a giant skyscraper right in front of their plane.
It didn't take long to figure out that something was very, very wrong. I worked in a basement and the only way we could find out what was happening was to listen to the radio through our phone system, and keep refreshing the main AOL page on our computers. I have never felt so vulnerable and powerless in my life as I did that day.
I will never forget how eerily empty the skies were after that. Or the reports of the fighter jets chasing down planes flying out of Ohare. I never heard the sonic boom myself, but plenty of people in the area certainly did.
I am glad that I have the ability to go on living life without a sense of terror, but I will never again feel as safe as I did before that terrible morning.
We had similar days. It was the first day my girls went to preschool together. I went down to the fish pier to see my husband who was working on his boat and one of the guys came over and said a plane had crashed in NY. I went home and was glued to the tv until I picked the girls up. Such a sad, sad day.
Thanks for your thoughts. It was a day that changed everything. I was sitting at home when my mother in law called to turn on the tv. I couldn't even figure out what she was talking about. It seemed to unbelieveable.
Like you it was a good reminder to not take freedom for granted. That day I was reminded what it meant to be an american.
Beautiful post Wendi,
I really love your blog.
Please drop by my post and pick up proof that I do
Hugs, Lura
Hey Wendi! Great post. I remember exactly where I was....teaching a class of high schoolers & 3 months pregnant with Cheney. I remember thinking: What kind of a world am I bringing this baby into?
Isn't it amazing how those days stick in your mind? I remember where I was and what I was doing when we heard the Challenger had exploded. My parents can tell me same details about JFK being assassinated.
I had many of the same feelings on 9/11. I also had a deja vu. I lived in OKC where the Federal building was bombed. I was only 3 miles from downtown when that happened and it was another very tragic memorable day. I hope to never have to see this again in my lifetime.
Isn't it crazy that we all remember exactly what we were doing when we heard the news? I was in computer class at the high school...~
That was a tough one. I can't imagine having my daughters first day of school combined with that horrible tragedy.....
Wonderful post! {I'm a little late in reading it!}
I do remember where I was and it was terrible. The teacher called over to tell me what had happened and I tuned in the radio -- we had no TV reception out in the sticks and so I could only listen to the news unfold. Later friends sent us tapes of the footage, I couldn't bring myself to sit and watch all 3 tapes, I only watched a little bit of each.
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