Thursday, September 11, 2008

Where were you?

I can’t believe it’s been 7 years. I can’t believe that one day in history can change so many lives, and leave such a lasting impression. I think I will always remember the events of that day- the fear, the confusion, the surprise that something like that could happen to US! We were supposed to be invincible. Isn’t that what they taught us growing up?



The sequence of events will forever be burned in my mind. I woke up to the news, but I thought that it was “just” a bomb. The most devastating thing that I had seen up until then was the bombing of Oklahoma City, so I thought it was more of the same. It was sad, but it was isolated and I wasn’t too concerned. I went to class- and then the second plane hit. Then the panic set in. People all over campus were glued to any TV available. It was pandemonium. I was terrified that this was the beginning of WWIII and we were all going to get killed by nukes.



I had ridden to campus with my brother, and I couldn’t find him. I called his cell phone multiple times with no answer. Hysteria was starting to set in. (Ok, really, I do tend to go from 0 to FREAK OUT really fast, so hysteria really wasn’t that big of a jump for me.) I was running all over campus trying to locate him- and I finally did. In the cafeteria. Eating a slice of pizza. Not really caring that we could all be dead in a minute. I wanted to slap him…. Especially when I told him that we needed to get home and he told me that I needed to chill out and let him finish eating first. That’s my brother for you.



I was scheduled to work that day, but I didn’t want to leave my house. My mom convinced me to go try and do something semi-normal, so I went. I remember we locked our doors, turned out the lights, and all sat behind the cash registers with the radio on. I don’t know what we thought would happen, but we were so terrified that we really just wanted to hide. We had family and friends that lived in and around NYC. Everyone was trying frantically to get through but the lines were all busy. Luckily everyone we loved was accounted for. What a relief that was!



The following days are a blur. I attended multiple candlelight vigils and my eyes were glued to the television. I was terrified to be alone, but I didn’t want to be around people, either. Eventually, I started to get back to normal. I don’t know what it took to knock me out of my funk, but something must have. Did I think that it would have a lasting effect on me? Not really. As much as I freak out about things, I can usually let them go pretty easily.



To this day, I get nervous when I hear an airplane flying low. Not really a good thing, since I lived about 5 minutes from an airport for a little over a year. I’m not as secure in the thought that I’m “safe.” I’m more skeptical, and I’m not sure that I like that.



However, I will NEVER forget how so many people rallied together during that time to show support and love for our country. I won’t forget the random acts of kindness that ran rampant through those days. Never in my life have I felt so much pride in the American people. Of course, that all eventually dwindled, and people started to try and profit off of the losses of others, but nothing will take away that short amount of time when I could say “THIS is what it’s all about. THIS is what so many people fought and died for. It WASN’T all in vain. WE WON’T LET IT BE.”



My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people who lost loved ones on that terrible day, and in related events since. To the many Americans who left their lives to aid those less fortunate. To all of the men and women who risked their lives to pick up the pieces of a wounded nation. To all of the people who continue to serve in the Armed Forces overseas and protecting our borders at Home. Thank you. You are appreciated, and you are missed.

29 comments:

Ginny said...

I live right next to Selfridge Air base, so I hear & see planes daily + warning alarms etc for testing. I totally can understand about the plane thing! My daughter started dance that day, it was something I was dreaming off since before I had her. It was so hard because I wanted to be happy, but I just couldn't. Nice post, I'm here from SITS. I haven't been able to write my 9/11 post yet.

Aubrey said...

Thanks for sharing. Nicely said.

HiHoOhio said...

thanks for sharing, please see my blog for a good story today

chellekay said...

thank you for sharing. It is a very sad day in all our lives.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing, great post!

cyndi said...

thank you. That was a great post

cricketphx said...

Yes, thanks for sharing. I had no idea it was happening until my husband called me from work. I have never heard his voice sound so horrified.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing. That was a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing your memories and insights.

Rela Pantaleon said...

I was across the Pacific, getting ready to retire to bed when a neighbor called me to turn on the TV. It was a hair-raising sight and the days after that were somber...even across the Pacific.

Rachel Berry said...

This is a great post! Thanks. It's so hard to believe it's been 7 years.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing- I think we can all relate. It's sad how something so awful is ofted what is needed to bring people toghether.

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Thank-you for sharing. I can't believe it's been seven years...

Little Birdie Secrets said...

Very touching post...thank you! Visiting from SITS! Congrats on your day!

Ritch in Love said...

Great post. Thank you for not forgetting....

Danyele Easterhaus said...

amen SITS gal! amen.

FarmGirl said...

Thanks for sharing...it was a day no one will ever forget. I agree, it was amazing how we Americans rallied and become "one nation, under God".

Scrappinfor3 said...

I remember So Much from that day. . .and shortly after found out we were expecting baby #2. So scared. . . The world was forever changed that day.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful.
I love this post.

Heather said...

wonderful post.

Ashley. Unscripted... said...

Happy SITS day and thank you for a beautiful post. We should all be remembering today!

Anonymous said...

Happy SITS day! Enjoyed reading your blog...

Thanks for this sweet post about 9/11.... so sad....

Crazy Momma said...

Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing it with us.

-Bridget said...

I love your last paragraph. That was awesome.

Also, I saw your about me in TTC and PCOS. I've been documenting my journey of life with infertility and having a baby. I hope there will be success for you too. Here's my story if you are interested. I hope it gives you hope. Start at the Conception post and go from there. http://balancingtheballs.blogspot.com/2008/08/all-about-reagan-part-v-third-trimester.html

The Long and the Short of it said...

Every year on 9-11 I relive the moment that I heard the news. For all of us, I think it will forever be etched in our memories. Thanks for the touching post.

www.longandshortofreallife.blogspot.com

Schmerica said...

It's a bittersweet day for me because I will be celebrating 2 years of life for my nephew today. Many people say "oh that's too bad he was born on 9.11" but really it gives me a reason to feel that there is always a silver lining no matter how black a cloud may be.

Unknown said...

Completely understand the low flying plane thing. When planes started flying low here I would have the most horrible dreams.

Just Lisa said...

Great post... Happy SITS Day!

the Babychaser: said...

I was in DC, where I work. We lived about a mile away from the Pentagon, and I had been at the Pentagon bus and train station (about 1/3 of the way around the building from the crash site) about an hour before the plane hit.

My husband and his best friend were also working downtown that day, and they made their way to my office. We managed to catch a train under the Potomac River, but had to walk most of the way home from there. When we left our office, the news was crazy. People were reporting that the state house was on fire, that there were another 14 planes in the air that might have been hijacked, that they were heading to DC, to the Capitol, to the White House.

The FBI were in my apartment lobby, asking anyone who came in whether they had seen anything. We had thought about evacuating the city, but by the time we got home and turned on the TV it was all over. No planes in the sky, and where could we be safer than right next to the Pentagon?

It was a beautiful September morning. So we went outside, walked down the road, and sat on the hill across from the Pentagon with hundreds of other people, watching it burn.

I'm glad you posted a rememberance. I wonder now whether I'll ever be able to think about Sept. 11 (in a serious way) and not be shaken.

K.W. said...

You called me that day. Do you remember? I was so confused because I was just waking up when you called. I had no idea what you were talking about at first. Then, I turned on the TV...