Wednesday Writing Essentials: Remembering 9/11

I was at work. Thinking it cant be.....My oldest little girl was 8 months old... I'm from Alabama and all of us here was really upset just like most of the rest of the USA.... I have friends in Pa. and I was hoping all of them were ok.....

And praying for the ones that lost family members.

Thanksf or sharing

I had a friend in New York that day I was frantically trying to get ahold of, probably like everyone else who knew someone who might be in NYC that horrific day.

I was at home doing my household chores when I received a phone call from my hubby who told me of the horrible events taking place in New York. I got so scared that I went to pick my daughter up from elementary school!!!

I was sitting in the first day of an MCSE Boot Camp with a class full of armed forces personnel. The class was in Georgia near the CDC which was considered a potential target.

Part of the class was mobilized and left immediately. Several left in the ensuing days.

I was at work only hearing bits and pieces until I my boss called saying someone else called saying that the plane hit the first tower. I was not real sure what and where the world trade center was or what it was until I turned on the news and then the world just seemed to stand still!

It's hard to believe we're about to experience yet another anniversary. Still seems like it was yesterday.

I was at work, and one of our colleagues had a radio in his cubicle. We gathered round to listen.

I was on the phone with my father, who was not near a TV, when the first building went down. I remember the whole thing just didn't seem real. He and I had taken 3 trip to New York together and watching the whole thing happen was like a nightmare in slow motion. I remeber the day by wearing a shirt that i got on one of our trips that has the Twin Towers on it. I place a flag pin on the mast of one of them. Bless the families that lost loved ones.

I was at home.

If you get a chance, please read Sheila Deeth's (smd.gather. com) Wednesday Writing Essentials poem. Sparse, elegant and a flowing message.

We will never forget.

I learned of the events of 9/11 at work. We had a big screen TV in a conference room and we took turns being glued to the TV and watching the horror unfold, and going back to our desks to answer phones. It was an international business, so many people were closely affected. Of course, we couldn't focus on anything else.

My teenage daughter was home alone recovering from knee surgery. She spent days watching the stories unfold. Her emotional pain compounded her physical pain--and she had no school or work or family to share or grieve with during the day. I felt awful about having to leave her at that time. It was a long, sad day--year--memory.

I spent weeks of sleepless nights praying the rescuers would find survivors. Sad sigh.

Few times in the lives of Americans would the public watch TV like that, Laree - and feel so empty and sick. JFK, 9/11, and for me, Katrina. Just those visceral feelings of feeling sick...

A sad day, yes. Sad about your daughter, too.

Every year, those feelings come back, don't they. ...those sick feelings of unease around 9/11.

...and on April 19-20 reflecting on the Oklahoma bombing and Waco and Columbine and bad people tend to "celebrate" this anniversary by doing something stupid or cruel or tragic.

My, these are depressing reflections. I'm glad this isn't our usual topic here.
--blessings--

Laree, Waco, Oklahoma and Columbine are sad and depressing, as they were instigated by crazies here - and thte US Government made Waco so much worse. I cried through that day, it was the day I had a lot of insights about our heritage....

~
It is to their memories:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977444821

or...DATELINE9/11

I spent 9/11 at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, in a room that often serves as a command center for the State Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (state police).

Despite the chaos of the day, there were few words exchanged. There was a lot of pain in the room. These are people with strong bonds of brotherhood.

Throughout the day, we would watch administrative messages beaming back and forth on the National Law Enforcement Telecomunication System (NLETS) between New York and surrounding agencies as they worked to co-ordinate a response.

It was like hell in slow motion.

I was on the bus heading into New York City, we were just going through the meadowlands, past Giants Stadium, I was blanking out as I often do, it was a beautiful day and the sun glare was bright, when a woman gasped: Oh My God! In the row in front of me. I looked up and out to see the smoke trail coming from the North Tower. We then witnessed in horror the second plane coming along at an incredibly shocking speed and plunge straight into the South Tower, a fireball erupted and everyone on the right side of the bus gasped. I thought it was a missile attack. Then another passenger gave us the news from his headset radio. I immediately thought of my wife who was supposed to be on the 45 floor moving new clients in. I found out later in the morning she was safe, he contractor was called for jury duty so they canceled walk-through meeting. The bus turned around (the Lincoln tunnel was closed) and dropped me back home where I watched the towers collapse from my bedroom window. Two days later I went down to help with the relief effort, handing out bottled water to the workers.

The world has become such a crazy place since that day.

Greg, your expression, 'hell in slow motion' - very apt.

Mark: Oh my. What hell.

Yes, a crazy place. Flying, new passport and DL regs, just gaining entrance into buildings, such fear, loathing and distrust everywhere. And now with Russia, Iran, Israel, Georgia...and Lehman Brothers, Freddie/Fannie....the Dow...very scary.

I can see a new global stock market crash, and multiple wars around the world dominating our political and economic landscape during the 2010s.

I'd just pulled into the office parkinglot. I took a moment to pray for the people on the plane and in the tower that was hit first.

As I opened the door to get out and go to the office, I heard the second plane had struck.
I reember thinking, "this is not an accident, our country is at war."

No one got much done that day, the collective county offices sponsored a patriotic prayer ceremony that all could attend along with lunch hour.

I don't think we'll ever forget, or be the same.

We will never be the same. I always pray for those who have lost a direct friend or family member.

I was at home watching my soaps. It interrupted programming and shocked me to the core. I will never forget it as long as I live.

Kathryn, thank you for the reminder and the opportunity....ever so much.

I will go back into the group and take a look at what has been submitted in my absence.

Liz, whatever are you wearing?

I was at college. News traveled across the campus to students who weren't near a TV. At first I thought it had to be a small plane--and an accident. By the time I was able to get to a computer, the 2nd plane had hit. We were stunned, just like everyone in the country.

The university closed at 10 A.M. and since we were largely a commuter school everyone went home that could. I had to call my parents and let them know because my dad was working 3rd shift at the time and was asleep. That was a horrible feeling.

My prayers go out to the families directly affected by this, as well as everyone else in the country.

Thank you, Patricia.

i was on a fast from tv and I did not watch tv I only listen to it until i could figure out what radio station to listen to for detail information

amy, that is a most interesting comment. thank you.

I was at home.

AQs terrible as that day was, all the days that followed have had their share of sadness and tragedy, losing our privacy, being manhandled each time we get on a plane, the Patriot act, Guantanamo, the torturing, all right taken from suspects, the loss of freedom and justice for all. The shadow of 9/11 is still hurting us maryanne

great tribute to those, thanks!