Community Chat

[Witchy Woman]

Thanks to all for sharing their stories. I cannot imagine the horror of seeing and hearing first hand all that went on.

I worked in Washington, DC, at the time and from my building, you could see the smoke from the burning Pentagon.

It was surreal.

It does not seem possible it has been 13 years.

[scotttie]

It does seem like it was just yesterday, to me. Thank you all for sharing your stories. Cannot even imagine the horror of being in New York that day.

I live in the midwest and had the Fox and friends show on as I always did in those days. Was about to put my dd on the bus when the first plane hit. There was the discussion about how big was the plane, was it an accident or what, etc. I took dd out to the bus and told the driver what happened. Came in sat down in front of the t.v. to do some paperwork and then the next one hit.

I remember being terrified as the reports of the other hijackings came on. DH had a nephew who was on a plane and his mom was worried sick. Turned out not to be one of *the* planes of course.

I remember the calls for blood donors and all emergency personnel to report to the hospitals. And then when there were few victims transported for treatment, the devastation in the realization that so very many had died. I recall when they asked Guiliani how many victims there would be he said "more than we can bear".

I remember watching live as the first tower came down. I didn't understand what was happening. I was on the phone with a friend and said "what is that?" She said "the tower just came down."

Puglet, I remember seeing those people with pictures on television and the pictures posted all over the place where family and friends were trying to connect. Just horrible.

[jlkz]

A little different type story: it was 6 am when the career counselors had to meet at the Pennsylvania client's site. The downsized clients would be meeting individually with a counselor throughout the AM. After my first two meetings, I went out into the corridor to see what all the commotion was about and watched the towers on the mounted TV's. When I went back to meet my third client, I began with my normal I'm sorry to be meeting you under these conditions." He took my hand and said I'm so happy to be meeting you TODAY ---- I normally work in the Tower building ! ! ! Later that week I was doing a two- day career search workshop at a hotel conference center and overheard a cellphone conversation that went something like this: I was talking to him as he jumped...... We also lost a fellow career counselor who was assigned to the WTC for that day. So many sad stories and ongoing painful memories. May those who perished be resting in eternal peace.

[Justice4all]

Those were two ugly buildings, but had the best view in the city - five states! Nothing like it since. No tsunami in Puket, no typhoon in Bangladesh, no earthquake in China, no volcanic eruption in The Philippines. Just pure absence of reason and empathy. Most everyone in New York City knew or knew of someone who was murdered in 9/11. Miss those buildings, and the memories and people attached.

[BecauseCats]

That day changed everyone's life forever even if you had no personal connection.

[SugarNSpice]

Thank you for sharing your stories.

[dmod nj]

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. I could relate to so much of what was written here, especially by those living in the Jersey/NY area.

[dooBdoo]

Thank you all for sharing such difficult experiences.

Wouldn't it be extraordinary if we could find the unity we felt as a nation in the days following those harrowing, heartbreaking events? It makes me think of Lincoln's words, paraphrased:

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching ... all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the nation, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

[Vamp]

It was hard enough to watch the coverage on TV of that day; I cannot imagine how devastating it must have been to be so close to the situation. God bless you, Stilloxox. May you and others who experienced it so personally find peace. (((hugs)))

[beach-mom]

I just got back from a 9/11 remembrance. Thank you for sharing all of your stories.

I hope all of the families who lost loved ones on 9/11, in Boston, or across the world on another day, know that we remember, and their loved ones' lives MATTERED!

As I was standing there, I thought of the families of the two latest American casualties and of the family of the 26 yr. old American girl that terrorist group still has.

And I thought of all those who are being killed because they believe something different.

And I said a prayer.