Where were you on 9/11?

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Permalink Reply by MagneticSilvia on September 7, 2009 at 10:51am

It always makes me cry when I think about 9/11. So many lost lives, so much damage and pain... It just breaks my heart.

I wasn't close to NY, I was in Europe, getting ready for my wedding. I remember watching news hoping it's just a bad joke. When other plane hit the towers, I knew it's not an accident. So many thoughts were in my mind... Is it the end of the world? Is there another world war coming? What's going on? Will I be like my grandma who had to live through the war? If US is not safe, who is?... not having answers felt so hard...

9/11 was topic on my wedding day. Instead of happy message we were reminded to live every day of our lives so that it counts. Raise our kids so they can know HIM who holds their future and eternity. People can take away your life, your money, your possessions, but no one can take away your soul. 9/11 reminds me of the importance to live my life so that I can spend my eternity with HIM - no matter when or how I die.

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Permalink Reply by Angie Meeks on September 7, 2009 at 10:52am

I was in my car on may way to work when I heard that there had been an accidental plane crash into one of the towers. It wasn't until I got to my office that I realized there was so much more to it than just an accident. We all sat listening in horror as the events took place and the chaos was reported. I remember feeling so sick for all of those experiencing the tragedy first hand. I just wanted to go pick up my kids and hold them close. It brings tears to my eyes even now thinking about all of those lost and the families left behind.

I recently visited NYC and the place where the towers once stood. It's hard to wrap my mind around what happened. I wasn't there that day nor did I know anyone who was lost. I can't imagine how it affected those who were close to the events that day and the days that followed. My prayers go out to each of you especially as September 11th approaches again.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Austin on September 7, 2009 at 11:17am

I was teaching a room of 2 and 3 year olds when my director came in and told us that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers. I remember that at first, we thought it was a terrible plane accident. We sent the kids to play and turned on the radio, that's when we realized that it was not an accident, but an act of terrorisim. I listened to the guy on the radio as he gave a minute by minute account of what was happening, righy up until the 2nd plane hit

During lunch and nap time, we turned on the tv. The images of the plane colliding with the WTC will be forever etched in mind. I had a friend, that just a few months earlier, had left to be a flight attendant, her first flight was also her last...she was plane #2.

A day later I found out I was pregnant with my son, I remember thinking how in the world could I bring a child into this world now...my heart weighed heavy as I thought about the world I would be brining my unborn into.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Cheray on September 7, 2009 at 12:00pm

I remember my day exactly that day. I had to go to a job training class in one of the community colleges in a suburb of Kansas City MO. I was listening to 98.9 The Rock a radio station I listened to just about everyday. I remember passing the HyVee grocery store and the filling stations and at that moment is when I heard ABC radio come on and interrupt the normal broadcast. I at first thought this was like one of those War of the Worlds things that Johnny Dare was pulling until I had gotten to the college and heard it on another radio station. We tried to get through the session as it was the last session and we had to do our mock interview with the trainer.

When we were done she dismissed us and told us to go find our loved ones and be with them for the day. I went back to the battered women shelter I was staying at and watched the news coverage briefly and cried with the girls watching the scene on the screen. The staff told us if we needed to leave to be with family that they were going to lift the curfew for that night just keep in touch at the end of the day to let them know what was going on where we were going to be. I checked on my sons daycare and they were under lock down, I had my cell phone with me and felt that all things considering he was safer there then he would be with me as I drove to Lawrence Kansas to be with my brothers for a couple of hours.

My instincts were dead on as throughout the day gas prices skyrocketed and there were long gas lines everywhere. I remember leaving Lawrence and knew I was on E and sitting there in my car a half a block away from the pump I was planning on using to fill up with. I would shut the car off and on thinking it would save what little gas I had left cause I sure didn't want to run out and have to push my car possibly losing my place in the line on top of it.

After I had finally gassed up and was on my way I turned on the radio and listened and remember driving by gas stations and every gas station had a line from the pump to the corner down around half way down the street.

Looking back at the stories here the one regret that I have is not calling my grandmother who would pass away a little over a month after that horrific day. However I knew my grandfather would answer the phone and read me the riot act about something so I didn't bother. He was one of those who would chew you out for accidentally getting hurt. I was there for her however, in her last days from the time she was admitted to the ICU up until 3 hrs before she passed.

I got back to Gladstone where I was temporarily staying at the shelter and gathered my son from the daycare and was so thankful to be with him. I spent the rest of the night with him just being very mindful that this could have happened here just the same or somewhere in Kansas. I have only flown once since and that was to Canada and haven't flown again.

We certainly changed as a country that day and I feel so deeply and genuinely sad for those who lost family members either in the towers, the Pentagon or on the plains it boggles my mind how many lives were lost that day.

My thoughts and prayers are with each and every person here and out in the country as they prepare this week for their own way to memorialize this tragedy.

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Permalink Reply by Mamacita on September 7, 2009 at 12:12pm

Mamacita says: I'm guessing that most bloggers will be posting tributes today, and telling the blogosphere 'where we were' when the planes hit the World Trade Center. Here is mine. This is actually the fifth time I've posted this on 9/11, so if it seems familiar, you're not crazy. Well, not on this issue, anyway.

==

The morning began like any other; we stood for the Pledge of Allegiance, and sat back down to watch Channel One News, which had been taped at 3:00 that morning in the school library, thanks to the timer. But Channel One News didn't come on.

Instead, the secretary's voice, over the intercom, told the teachers to "please check your email immediately." We did. And we found out what had happened.

I scrolled down the monitor and read the end of the message. The superintendent had ordered all teachers to be absolutely mum all day about the tragedy. We were not to answer any questions from students, and we were especially not to offer any information to them.

The day went by in a blur. Many parents drove to the school, took their kids out, and brought them home. Between classes, frightened groups of students gathered in front of their lockers and whispered, gossiped, and cried, and begged us for information. By that time, the superintendent's order had been seconded by the principals, and we were unable to give these terrified kids any information. In the computer labs, the MSN screens told the 8th graders the truth, but they, too, were instructed NOT to talk about it to the other students. Right, like THAT happened. The biggest problem was, the story was being repeated by 8th graders, and it was being told bloody-killing-deathtrap-you're next-video-game-style.

At noon, many of the students were picked up by parents and taken home or out for lunch. Those few who returned had a big tale to tell. The problem was, the tale was being told by children and few if any of the facts were straight. The tale was being told scary-style, and the atmosphere in the building got more and more strained. We are only a few miles away from an immensely large Navy base, where ammunition and bombs are made, and we've always known it was a prime target, which means, of course, that we are, too. Many of my children's parents worked there. The base was locked down and those parents did not come home that night.

Reasonable questions were answered with silence, or the statement: "You'll find out when you get home."

This, added to all the rumors and gossip spread by children, turned my little sixth graders into terrified toddlers.

As teachers, we were furious and disgusted with the superintendent's edict. We wanted to call all the students into the gym and calmly tell them the truth in words and ways that would be age-appropriate. We wanted to hug them and assure them that it was far away and they were safe. We asked for permission to do this, and it was denied. Our orders were 'silence.' We hadn't been allowed to hug them for years, of course, but there are times and places when hugs ARE appropriate. No matter, the superintendent stood firm: no information whatsoever.

The day went by, more slowly than ever a day before. The students grew more and more pale and frightened. We asked again, and again he stood firm that no information whatsoever was to be given out.

By the end of the day, the children were as brittle as Jolly Rancher Watermelon Sticks.

A few minutes before the bell rang to send them home, a little girl raised her hand and in a trembling voice that I will never forget, asked me a question. "Please, is it true that our parents are dead and our houses are burned down?"

That was it. I gathered my students close and in a calm voice explained to them exactly what had happened. I told them their parents were alive and safe, and that they all still had homes to go to.

The relief was incredible. I could feel it cascading all through the room.

I was, of course, written up for insubordination the next day, but I didn't care. My phone had rung off the hook that night with parents thanking me for being honest with their children. That was far more important than a piece of paper that said I'd defied a stupid inappropriate order meted out by a man who belonged in the office of a used car lot, not in a position of power over children's lives.

The next day at school, in my room, we listened to some of the music that had been 'specially made about the tragedy. I still have those cd's and I've shared them with many people over the past few years. It is true that kids cried again, but it was good to cry. It was an appropriate time to cry. We didn't do spelling or grammar that day. There are times when the "business as usual" mindset simply is not appropriate.

I wish administrators would realize that kids are a lot tougher than we might think. Kids are also a lot more sensitive that we might realize. It's an odd combination, and we as educators must try our best to bring the two ends of the emotional spectrum together and help these kids learn to deal with horrible happenings and still manage to get through the day as well as possible.

Ignoring an issue will not help. Morbidly focusing on an issue will not help. Our children are not stupid, and to treat them as such is not something that builds trust. Our children deserve answers to their questions.

How can we expect our children to learn to find a happy medium if we don't show them ourselves, when opportunities arise?

September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2009. God bless us, every one.

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Permalink Reply by Andrea on September 7, 2009 at 1:40pm

I was just thinking about this today. I was in Grad School sitting in my Economics class when my professors wife came in and told him the news. Then, he told us. We spent the rest of the morning watching the television and listening to the news. I couldn't get in touch with my father (he works in the city) and I was scared.

We lost neighbors and friends that day.

I was thinking about it this morning and realizing just how much has changed since that day. On 9/11 I was an unmarried woman with no children just starting my graduate school program. Today, I have been married 6 years, have 2 children a home, a job and a small business. While so much has changed, a lot hasn't. The memories of that day are still with me - I can't shake the feeling of sadness. I'm sure it's the same for everyone else too.

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Permalink Reply by Alexis on September 7, 2009 at 2:10pm

I had just moved to a new place. On that day I was resting on the couch. I flipped on the news and was half in a daze because I just couldn't believe it. My husband called and my parents called. We were all in shock. My husband and I went to go to donate blood to help.

It forever changed our country. After that we weren't as confident anymore. Its becoming even more apparent now. As a nation, we have lost our confidence and our creativity and innovation hasn't been the same since. It was a such sad time.

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Permalink Reply by Tee Crawford on September 7, 2009 at 3:32pm

I was asleep in my bedroom. I had let my children sleep with me
the night before. Hubby wasn't home. I turned on the t.v. and I saw the
second plane hit the Twin Tower. At first I thought it was in a foreign country
until I looked up at the screen and it said "Live from New York" I almost fainted.

We watched in awe all day and I was devastated. Children were 2 young to
understand.

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Permalink Reply by Why Mom Drinks Rum on September 7, 2009 at 5:22pm

Every year when 9-11 comes around I always think the same thing.

"It can't be #X# years already!"

I think everyone remembers exactly where they were at that moment in time. I was in bed. Early morning. My mother-in-law was living with us at that time and hubby called from work. I picked up the phone the same time that she did but they had already started talking - so I listened.

Then I went downstairs and turned on CNN. My gut told me this was the start of World War 3. A list ran through my head....Russia? Iraq? Oh God, please not China! I can remember emailing my southern girls and begging for word of our friend in New Jersey. The relief at knowing she was safe. The next 3-4 days we didn't change the channel.

Hubby had been on the job for less than 2 weeks. I was due to fly out to Vancouver Island with my daughter for my best-highschool friend's wedding. I was the Maid of Honor and my daughter was a flower girl. All flights were cancelled.

One of my flights was re-instated...but the connecting flight went over US airspace and was cancelled with no hope. My friend's mother called me and got mad that I wasn't taking the first flight and figuring it out when I landed. Needless to say she is not my most favorite person. So, instead of being in her wedding I attended hubby's very sombre graduation from the Police Academy and bunkered down with my family.

4 days later I got a call from hubby. He was at the airport. He wouldn't be home that night. And he was quarantined....for exposure to Anthrax. The CDC flew out officials who took blood....then released him the next morning. I got a call from the CDC while he was sleeping that he was not exposed to Anthrax and we were in the clear.

I think 8 years ago a majority of the world had one of the worst weeks of their lives.


I can't help but think how lucky we all are to have been able to live those weeks out.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on September 10, 2009 at 8:51am

I listened - very beautiful Robin. Also signed up to follow your blog :) Thanks so much for sharing this.

Robin Tramble said:

Hello ladies,
Dawn please listen to my song and all of you here http://budurl.com/youdontweepalone911
Please Dawn if you'd like a copy let me know. My dream was to get this in the hands of every one who
lost a loved one in this tragic event. The main thing I'm so grateful for is that because of the internet
individuals across the world will at least hear it. May it warm your heart and provide additional healing.

I was at home and couldn't believe what I saw. I quickly turned up the TV and I was overwhelmed with tears, my heart ached and soon after I wrote the song "You don't weep alone" as I felt that it was being downloaded
from the heavenlies. Please tell others.

Thank you Robin for posting this. I've tweeted about this on twitter in hopes that I would find someone such as Dawn and others.

I will never forget and I'm doing all I can to make sure that many others never forget.

Please leave a comment on my blog after you've listened to the song
http://www.youdontweepalone911.blogspot.com

Covering all with prayer.

Robin

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