How did September 11th effect you?

[naughtygirl]

With the anniversary of the September 11th attacks just 2 days away, I am curious as to how these events have effected people, in general, and in their every day lives.

Please comment on any aspect of it you feel inclined to, and in any way that expresses your thoughts and feelings on the events. Maybe this will lend itself to being a good outlet.

 

[Jaded1]

911 remembered........

My very good friend and neighbor's brother worked in the second tower to be struck. He was one of the victims that perished. The year prior to the attack we were laughing and joking with one another at a Christmas party...........

Jaded1, CT

 

[Artemesia]

Overall it has made me much, much more aware of worldy events.
It distresses me that somebody hated us enough to do that to us. When I see news about the religious fanatics behind the attacks, it makes me fearful that these folks believe so adamantly in what they are doing - and that what they did to us and to their own people is so justified in their minds.

They are not sane.

From what I've seen, they cannot be reasoned with.

 

[MagicMan]

Although not directly involved,like most people throughout the world, I was shocked and saddened by the events that took place. My thoughts will be with all the ones who suffered and are still suffering whatever their nationality,religion, political leanings etc. be with you all. MM

 

[ma_guy]

Hmmm. I knew one of the passengers on one of the flights out of Boston pretty well and another 3 in passing. The 1st month was a bitch. Watching a surviving child of one of those people walk across the stage at graduation this past spring was a bit of a bear. (The kid is a real trooper though..)

I think I tend to take a lot of things a lot less seriously now. Maybe that's a bit of why I'm here on Lit. Live life while you can...

 

[MissTaken]

In general, I am a far more vigilant and affectionate mother. The Twin Towers made me realize how fragile life is and how vulnerable we are as a nation. It also has made me give more serious thought and attention to foreign policy, foreign affairs and the Middle East.

As a result of the Twin Towers, I found a renewed respect for Great Britain and in particular, Tony Blair. While his policies are questioned in GB, the speech he gave initially in support of the war on terrorism touched a chord with me.

Another generalized point, I have not watched CNN since they played bootlegged audio tapes of NYC emergency personnel gasping for breath and one whispering her final words into the radio. Ted Turner needs to choke on his ratings. (It is Ted, right?)

Personally, a former student parished in the tragedy.

I had just resigned a position with the promise of several others in the wings. They were all positions funded by New York State. Funding was rerouted from my potential employers to NYC which has left me in a job that I can barely make ends meet. No, not bitter, but factual.

Also, personally, I have had to teach my children what war and conflict are. I have had to explain that all men with beards and white turbans are not the "bad guys," I have heard my innocent babies talk about bombs and plane crashes. Their school had over 100 bomb threats in two months. A piece of my children's innocence was lost on 9/11 when the babysitter watched the news all day and the teacher made some emotional statements to the class. All had the best of intentions, but in a state of shock, who knew what to say or do?

The ramifications of 9/11 are far reaching in subtle and not so subtle ways.

 

[Ukin]

I was in Spain at the time and because my sisters house was new, we had no tv. It wasn't until I went out for my meal and a few drinks that I realised that it had happened. The bars were full of sad and crying people. Even though we were thousands of miles away, we felt the pain and the suffering.
I agree with MissT. Tony Blair made a wonderful speech, cementing (if they ever needed cementing) the bond between our countries. Yet again, we stand alone, shoulder to shoulder, arms to arms whilst the rest of Europe dilly dally.
How has this affected me? I am proud to be English, I am proud to be living in your fine country. I am proud that we, you and us, stand together on the quest to rid the World of evil bastards..and believe me, Britain and America WILL get rid of those types.

God Save The Queen and God Bless America.

 

[mbb308]

If ever there were a reminder to live life one day at a time, 11 September 2001 was it.

If we learn nothing else from that day, that one thing will last a lifetime.

 

[naughtygirl]

I moved here to Texas from NYC about 3 years ago. While I lived in NYC for about 5 years, for 7 months of that time, I would pass through one of the towers everyday to catch a PATH train to NJ for work. I grew up in a small town in upstate NY, and so NYC, with all of its skyscrapers, always awed me. But what always struck me about those towers were how damn majestic they really were. As you stood at ground level, and bent your back, and stretched your head way back looking up, they seemed to rise into the heavens.

When I got news of the plane hitting the first one, I had just come into work and our receptionist asked me if I had heard that a plane had just hit the WTC. My first thought...."stupid pilot!" I had no clue or had even the thought that anything like a group of terrorists would do something of that magnitude. I was niave. So naive.

That day, I spent the majority of it worrying about my mother who was, of all days, supposed to be down there...couldnt reach her for hours...and I worried about my friends.... Once I found out my mother was safe, I spent all night trying to call various friends who still lived there...circuits were busy all night. I watched and watched and watched as they replayed the footage of the planes hitting the towers, the footage of the Pentagon, the towers coming down, the reaction and the horror on the faces of the people living in NYC and in Washington. It was surreal. I finally spoke with one of my best friends, who had gotten in touch finally with another friend, and listened as she recounted her story of being carried out of one of the towers by a fireman and then fleeing shoeless across the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a horrific retelling of events. I could not even begin to imagine living through it. Most of all, I was so thankful that my family and friends were safe...

For weeks I lived the news, coming home after work each night to curl up on my bed in the fetal position and watch. I read just about everything on the events. And I cried, hysterically sobbed, every time a member of a victim's family showed their picture and begged for someone to recognize them. Finally after several weeks of this, I had to turn the TV off. It was all too much...so much.

I look at pictures that I had taken with family and friends on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, with the Twin Towers standing in the background, and its very hard for me to grip the fact that they are no longer standing. The sheer magnitude of such an event is hard for me to realize.

Today, I no longer feel niave. I think that is probably what I feel the most about it. Of course there are many other ways that this event has effected me...but the first thing that came to mind when I posed the question to myself was that I am no longer niave. And I am aware now. and honestly, I really liked that cushie bubble I was living in before all of this. But sadly that is not the world we live in.

 

[DevilBoy79]

how did it effect me? well i was sitting in one of the computer labs on campus, talking to IA on her break, between classes i was done for the day, when i heard it on the radio, and a second later she sent me a link to the newsite , i was scared that the buss depot right across the street and the federal building was going to be next, i never seen the college clear out so fast in my life, an besides feeling sorry for the families, i havent been effected in any other way

p.s. this wedensday, the dept store i work at isnt opening till 10am in honor of the people who died, and their giving us the opportunity of starting at 10am or keeping our earlier schedules shifts, knowing there wont be any customers,FYI: i'm keeping my 6am-10am shift

 

[tigerjen]

Remembering 9/11 one year later......

This is a repost from what I just posted on the NY Vincinty
thread only a few minutes ago:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember getting ready to go to the gym when the
first plane crashed into one of the Towers......I remember
at the gym when both Towers collapsed and we were all
watching it on the tv while on the Elliptical trainer, and I
recall letting out this big scream..........I remember racing
home right after and crying......only to have to go to
work for the 3-9pm shift at my job, and to find that CNN
was turned on......

As soon as I got home after the gym I frantically called
some friends who I know that work and/or live in the city
and was unable to get thru on the phones.........but
sent emails .......luckily those friends did not work in
the WTC.....but they were okay.........

Such a beautiful blue sunny day that Tuesday last year
turned into smoky tears.........I remember getting home
from work later that night and I cried.......and called up
friends....and cried some more......

That Friday 9/14 I recall was the "day of rememberance".....
it was a cloudy, rainy day......I remember saying that
"the world was crying".........(fuck, my eyes are welling
up already!) ..........I cried when watching the service
being broadcast from Washington DC........

I remember as a child, whenever me and the family
would drive to JFK to leave for a trip, my mom would
point out the skyline......I will never, ever forget that.
And when walking thru downtown to catch the Staten
Island ferry when I was in college.....passing the area
where the Towers are..........a sight to behold.

I saw Ground Zero for the first time, on my 28th birthday
back in May. I was with a good friend of mine, and one
of the things I wanted to do was to get down to Ground
Zero. It was weird, scary, and very very sad all at the
same time. Seeing the different pictures and memorials
up was real sad and I started crying on the sidewalk. I
could not believe that "there's no more" "I can't believe
they aren't there".......(I'm babbling please forgive me)....
However, I am glad that I got to Ground Zero when I
did......and I know a lot of people, including some good
friends of mine, will not go down there, either too many
memories or too upsetting, and that is understandable.

Last week here in CT, there was a state memorial set
up in honor of CT residents who died in the tragedy,
and the memorial is at Sherwood Island State Park in
Westport........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a lighter note, I've had the good fortune of
meeting a number of people from the NY thread, CT,
and New England threads over the past several
months this year......& just being together with friends
is one of life's best medicines....the laughter, smiles,
and togetherness........

United we stand........together......


tigerjen

 

[Woodmiester]

After getting a call from my brother, I turned on the TV, seeing the smoke, knowing something very wrong was taking place, hearing the reporters say they weren't sure what was going on, then the second plane hitting, seeing that was when all rumors stopped, this was an attack and I felt something in the pitt of my stomach I had never felt before.

Seeing the Firefighters rushing into a building that they knew is was only time before something bad would happen, and knowing because like some others here at Lit were or maybe are still, a firefighter myself that they never gave a second thought to it or what the outcome may be.

Also being a former police officer, well, it still has effects that each must sort out for themselves.

Brave people died that day and in the days to follow, some wore a badge, some suits, some jeans, but we not only as a Nation shall never be the same again, we as a world will never be the same.

 

[driver775]

WTC

I am with mixed emotions in all of this. I watched it
happen on tv in my motel room and I was devastated.
I found it hard to believe what I was seeing. I was as
everyone else stunned, then saddened, and then when
I had later found out family friends had died I was to say
the least extremely angry more than I was and more
saddened. I had to go back out on the road the next day
and constantly found myself watching over my shoulder
so to speak. Can't really do that in a semi, but I do look in
my mirrors now for more than just 4wheelers (cars).
Before this cowardice and tragic event happened I had
seen a great influx of Middle Easterners driving trucks
more and more and there were some of us that had a sick
feeling that something was going to happen. It wound up
being different than what our fears were, but I wasn't
totally surprized. I did notice that the next day I didn't see
one driver that was Middle Eastern
I try to not be prejudiced, but I find it very difficult.
These cowards say they are warriors, but a true warrior
faces his enemy, he does not go and kill in such a cowardly
manner.
Originally I wasn't going to post, but the more I read,
well, I felt the need. The company I drove for eventually
closed its doors due to this indirectly, so I lost my job
because of it as well as friends of my family. I find it very
difficult to restrain myself from smacking one upside the
head and a few other things I won't mention, I have
been tempted to backing my truck over a few when I
see them driving like they are better than everyone
else. I get tired of that. And I do see a lot of it. Most of
the ones I met have an attitude of superiority and that
tends to piss me off, especially when their trucks have
been bought by money granted to them by the govt. that
came from our taxes. Oh shit I ranting on I better stop.
Sorry folks, this is a sore spot for me. Well, I promise I
won't back over anyone on purpose.
I cried that day, dried up my tears and went and got
my truck and went back out on the road. In some ways
I haven't been the same since. The govt. tells me I have
to watch out for hijackers and crazy *#&*ing terrorists.
Like I always needed that to cheer me up.
Well folks, for what its worth, a lot of us driving out
there are watching. And the politics of it all, well, that
is a mess ain't it. Their religion says to enslave or kill
the infidels. To them I am an infidel. Oh well. Some people
show me a finger and tell me I am #1 sometimes too.
Well, I will get off my soap box now.

 

[trixiefirecracker]

I didn't know anyone who was killed or injured...being a Brit, I think there were a few of them in there that didn't make it though.

I just remeber how surreal it all felt....I had a day of work and I watched the whole thing on television....I just couldn't beleive it. My mother rang me...she was crying just from the sheer shock of it all, we sat on the phone for an hour, watching people jumping from the top floors before the towers colapsed.

It didn't hit me properly until a couple of days after....a news programme was playing messages left by people who knew they wouldn't get out...and wanted to call home to say a few last words to thier loved ones. I heard those and I just cried and cried.

The last week i've been reading about it all again....and even now I struggle not to cry about it sometimes.

Tomorrow will be a very hard day for a lot of people.

In remeberance.....

 

[tigerjen]

Bumping it up for others who want to post........

 

[omahaman2]

this day, this terrible day in the history of america causes alot of mixed emotions in me.I can not completely
seperate them all, they now make up partly who i am, but Ill try a few.

Lat year, on this day, i was on LIT chat before going to work. Someone came on saying hey turn on your tvs. As I did i was filled with fright, totally scared, not sure what was going on. Newscasts coming on as i drove to work about the pentagon, the other plane crash in PA. , our whole country was under attack.
People started talking about other cities possibly having problems, in kansas city where i was they closed all tall buildings and all government buildings.A big part of my world, a fiber on what i base my life on, the strength of my country was being attacked.


In the days that followed, Americans became more voracious about thier patriotism. Pride in my country and patriotism i have always held dearly but now this pride and patriotism were nowat the forefront of everything i did. I was in the music business at the time and it swelled my heart with pride the number of people buying and listening to patriotic music. We couldnt get it out to all the outlets we supplied in the country fast enough.Also, all Americans were more respectful more understanding of thier fellow countrymen. I wanted to just walk up to people and say HEY, Im an American.

Last night, my pride and patriotism hit me again. I ended up at a show where Barbara fairchild was singing, a lesser known country star. At the end of the show, the lights went down, the curtains closed and over the speakers she asked everyone to stand and join hands. With the entire place still dark, over the speakers came her voice speaking words of pride in our country, the servicemen and all others who serve our country. As the curtains openned, she started singing lee greenwoods song

If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

>From the lakes of Minnesota
to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
from sea to shining sea.
>From Detroit down to Houston
and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
and it's time we stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.


She didnt sing alone for very long. Here in the middle of the country, in good ole iowa, people of different races, many many many different nationalities, both young and old all had joined hands, not just a few but everyone, were swaying as one, while singing each word with what you could tell was all their heart. I didnt think it would touch me as it did, with me not being a country music fan but i lost my ability to talk as i choked back tears of pride.

Lastly, it brought me feelings in the days after, a kind of i dont know what to call it, a sense of confusion maybe. In the midst of all these attacks on our great country,God touched myself and another,and brought someone very special into each others lives. In nyc,in manhattan lived a very wonderful woman, a very special person.She not only lived in nyc but the last company she worked for had offices in the twin towers,she had been to meetings there.She was ,as you would expect her to be, effected by this all happening.A friend of hers suggested LIT stories to try somewhat to get her mind off it for a minute or two. After many hours ofreading,she stumbled into chat and later on to me..After many hours of sharing, via chat,phone,instant messenger,the bulletin boards,in person and through her wonderful words in her poems and story, we know each other very well and have fallen in love.Next month she leaves nyc to join me in the midwest and to share our futures together.With the whole world in turmoil,especially the united states,the two of us were given somebody special to hold on to,not only for the time being ,but forever more.
So, you can see what that day has brought me and why i am a mess of emotions.That day has not only brought me the feeling ofbeing scared of what the future brings, what may lurk around the corner,a feeling of pride,not only in my country but in each and everyone of my countrymen , but also a mixture of both love,unconditional love from someone special,and a feeling of for a lack of a better word guilt for this day being somewhat responsible for it.

 

[tonitits]

I did not know anyone personally lost or affected by the terror attack. But even so, I was deeply upset and scared. Our very strong, capable country was under attack and at war, on our homeland. This is something I never thought would be possible. I think the US got a very rude awakening and lost our innocence. Kids today are having to bear so much at a very young age. This last year has been one hell of a year. I am glad to see that Americans stood together and showed our patriotism and how we are going to stand united until this is all over. A short after we were started to get over this to some extent. Then someone started killing people with anthrax sent through the mail. This really hit home. Being that I am a postal worker who processes mail that goes all over the world, not just locally, the postal workers became soldiers on the front line. Our lives were being threatened every day. Just like those victims in the WTC were just going to work to do their job on that fateful day. So were we, and noone seemed to care that our lives were in danger. They just kept telling us that nothing was going to happen to us. When we asked to be protected and allowed to wear gloves, face masks, etc...to protect ourselves we were told no that it would be a SAFETY HAZARD and that we were not in danger of anything happening to us. It took a postal worker DYING before they would take measures to protect us. As the whole country is under orange level for attacks, the Postal Service has been on that since 9/11. Through Lit I have found friends here that were affected by it and my heart goes out to each and every one of them. I have also found friends here and also love. I just hope and pray that everyone here is given a chance to recover and find love, if that is what they are looking for. But most of all live life to the fullest and don't be afraid to open up and let someone love you and love them back. Life is definitely too short. And like the old song says "What the world needs is love, sweet love"

 

[Mountain Man]

Like most people..it was horrific and unbelieveable to me..

There were a number of thinhgs that made this whole situation a bit strange for me..

That weekend the 7th-10th of September, I was up in Boston visiting friends and helping my wifes cousin ( from Greece)move into an Apartment at MIT . I spent a number of hours at Logan Airport that weekend and ended up leaving from logan at 10:00 Pm Monday night.

The Next morning started off normally..I dropped my kids off at school at 8:30 and drove to the office...I was listening to the radio and heard about the first plane to hit the WTC..The reports were that it was a small commuter plane or something to that effect...an accident.

I got to the office at 9...and some of the people theri had heard what was going on.A few of the people had small TV's on and we spent most of the morning glued to the TV. My Father and many friends live and work in NY. I tried for hours to get in touch with them. My father works abot 4 blocks from the Towers....I thought he was gone( he didn't go to work that day)

Then I heard about the Pentgon being hit...My oldest friend (from nursery school) worked in the pentagon and his wife is a staffer on Capitol Hill. I called his house in Virgina expecting her to answer (she was 8 months pregnant at the time) and he answered the phone. His wife was stuck in DC and couldn't get home since they had closed the city. He told me that his mother (kind of my second mother) had a meeting at the WTC that morning but was running late and had seen the original crash and stayed home.

Then I realized that I did business with a number of people that worked in the WTC. Fuji Bank, Cantor Fitzgerald and others.
I didn't know may of these people well....business aquaintences, who i talked to on the phone.

I didn't make it up to NY for a few more months, It wasn't untill February that i actually made it down to ground Zero and saw what had happened there..It was amazing. Gone...just Gone.

My Father had worked at 120 Broadway (about 2 blocks away) in the early 1970's and i remember going to his office and seing the buildings go up (I was all of 7 years old when they were opened). They were a part of New York....Like the Eifel Tower in Paris or the Parthenon in Greece.

I had always been a Patriot, but not in an outward , gung-ho way. I love My country...but that day..I couldn't get enough of seeing the flag...our flag...I wet to Wal-mart that afternoon and bought one to hang at my house.

Trying to explain what had happened , to my children - 7 &4 was difficult....we didn't watch alot of tv when they were around, but they saw and heard a great deal. How do you explain to a child what had just happened..Hell we had been to the obsevation deck of the WTC the previous Christmas with them...

While all of us have moved ahead...The memories are still there, and alway will be..

I was thinking of something today....The saying about 9/11 is that

"we will never forget"

...but I believe it is more Important to

"ALWAYS REMEMBER".

 

[baby blue]

I cried when I read this thread...even though it was a whole year ago....I still get emotional...
I would like to be first to say...." I am proud to be an American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[tonitits]

Like most people..it was horrific and unbelieveable to me..

There were a number of thinhgs that made this whole situation a bit strange for me..

That weekend the 7th-10th of September, I was up in Boston visiting friends and helping my wifes cousin ( from Greece)move into an Apartment at MIT . I spent a number of hours at Logan Airport that weekend and ended up leaving from logan at 10:00 Pm Monday night.

The Next morning started off normally..I dropped my kids off at school at 8:30 and drove to the office...I was listening to the radio and heard about the first plane to hit the WTC..The reports were that it was a small commuter plane or something to that effect...an accident.

I got to the office at 9...and some of the people theri had heard what was going on.A few of the people had small TV's on and we spent most of the morning glued to the TV. My Father and many friends live and work in NY. I tried for hours to get in touch with them. My father works abot 4 blocks from the Towers....I thought he was gone( he didn't go to work that day)

Then I heard about the Pentgon being hit...My oldest friend (from nursery school) worked in the pentagon and his wife is a staffer on Capitol Hill. I called his house in Virgina expecting her to answer (she was 8 months pregnant at the time) and he answered the phone. His wife was stuck in DC and couldn't get home since they had closed the city. He told me that his mother (kind of my second mother) had a meeting at the WTC that morning but was running late and had seen the original crash and stayed home.

Then I realized that I did business with a number of people that worked in the WTC. Fuji Bank, Cantor Fitzgerald and others.
I didn't know may of these people well....business aquaintences, who i talked to on the phone.

I didn't make it up to NY for a few more months, It wasn't untill February that i actually made it down to ground Zero and saw what had happened there..It was amazing. Gone...just Gone.

My Father had worked at 120 Broadway (about 2 blocks away) in the early 1970's and i remember going to his office and seing the buildings go up (I was all of 7 years old when they were opened). They were a part of New York....Like the Eifel Tower in Paris or the Parthenon in Greece.

I had always been a Patriot, but not in an outward , gung-ho way. I love My country...but that day..I couldn't get enough of seeing the flag...our flag...I wet to Wal-mart that afternoon and bought one to hang at my house.

Trying to explain what had happened , to my children - 7 &4 was difficult....we didn't watch alot of tv when they were around, but they saw and heard a great deal. How do you explain to a child what had just happened..Hell we had been to the obsevation deck of the WTC the previous Christmas with them...

While all of us have moved ahead...The memories are still there, and alway will be..

I was thinking of something today....The saying about 9/11 is that

"we will never forget"

...but I believe it is more Important to

"ALWAYS REMEMBER".

MM Your message really touched me, it is so nice. You know we never know that where we are at any given time can have such a profound effect. Here in your story there were so many different circumstances that made people who might have been victims not be there, thank God, like you I have always been a patriot but did not show it alot and I do LOVE our country. And I always liked the song Proud to be an American, but after 9/11 I became our national anthem to some extent. I have never been to New York or seen the twin towers but yet they still mean so much to me. I can't even imagine NYC without them. And like you I will ALWAYS REMEMBER. I dread tomorrow in some ways, we will have to go through it all over again. Right now my heart is so full and breaking and wonder if our country will ever be the same again. God Bless America.

 

[JennyOmanHill]

Living my lifetime in NYC, I have had the fortune to meet many people from many different nations. It always troubled me to hear how countries dealt with ongoing acts of terrorism, and felt priviledged not to have to deal with them firsthand.

That all changed last 9/11.

What else has changed for me? Most immediately, my neighborhood (Broadway theatre district; Times Square) became a ghost town. Absolute quiet replaced the almost constant sound of horns honking and sirens blasting. For weeks after, the streets were deserted. Our local firestation lost half its crew. Plays closed (some never recovered). Many of my friends joined me in the unemployment ranks, and are still dealing with cut shifts and light paychecks, even though rents and bills remain as high as ever.

Business in the area has somewhat resumed, although tourism is still noticeably down in this busy area. Tomorrow will be another eerie day here, as most of the Broadway shows will remain closed, even though Wednesday's are matinee days and are usually full of buses of people trekking in for the shows.

Some of the memories I have of that time a year back include seeing fire trucks and police cars returning from the site, covered in dust and seeing people crying openly in the streets. I felt a closeness to this neighborhood that I hadn't before.

Unfortunately, I sense that as many of us continue to move on, that a lot of the initial feeling of "togetherness" has disappeared, replaced by a new wave of anxiety and helplessness.

Amazingly, even something like this has a positive side. Personally, I no longer take ANYTHING or ANYONE for granted! I greet more people with a hug, and make sure I say both hi and bye as we continue on our way. I value my family and friends so completely now, and I have learned to accept their love for me.

I never expected to want to leave NYC, and I still love it dearly, but my heart lies elsewhere. As Oman has already mentioned, we found either other here at LIT. The timing was right for me to meet this wonderful man, and let him into my heart. Although I'm sad about leaving so many good friends, I'm heading to be with my best friend. I get to leave this City before I grow to dislike it! I cannot keep up with the pace and price here anymore, and fortunately love has offered me an opportunity I never expected.

Hoping we all grow closer together through this painful anniversary.

"Give peace a chance."

 

[InnocentAngel81]

i remember the night before it happened i couldnt sleep, my mom just got home from a weekend trip from penslyvania.The next day Iwent to class and I heard someone crying in they hallways, and kids phones were going off, but i didnt really hear anything about it until i went into the computer lab all the way across the campus, I watched it on the tv as i was trying to figure out what happened. I was afraid the would attack somewhere close by, the school got shutdown i was stranded for an hour or two. I was scared to leave the house the next day.

 

[ChaffII]

I remember it well

At the time I was a Canadian Sailor at sea on my ship. We were 75 miles south of home Halifax Nova Scotia. I had put in my request for retirement but only six days prior. Being forty-five years old and a senoir hand on board I remeber alot of things. First early after the first attack our weather man came to bridge where I was on watch. He said that it had just happened, I looked at him and said something about disbielf. Then the Executive Officer came over to the Captain and told him what had transpired. Then the rumour mill ground out ideas. At the time we were fully loaded with fuel and anything we needed to do our jobs. And frankly although now I see the reasoning behind it I was ready to head south and protect New York Harbour. We were only 14 hours away tops and a good speed. We didn't go!
I was disappointed I wanted to we could have been able to do something or so I thought. Standing on the bridge that morning taking calls from the crew aboard the ship trying to find out what was going on. At one point I was sure we going to help. The day wore on and when we finally got close enough to shore to get news reception I was devistated we've all seen the results.
With tommorrow being the anniversary you as a proud and strong nation can rest assured that you have allies that wanted to do more. As a steadfast and true nation you can rest assured that one man wanted to fight beside, with and strongly to put to rest the mere inkling that this could ever happen again.

Be proud people you have won in the face of your enemy. You have shown that you can not be put asunder. You have the strength to move forward on the path that has besieged us.

May God Bless

 

[redelicious]

How did it effect me?

For the longest time I think I was in denial. I was glued to the television, needing to see those greusome images of planes exploding in towers, and of towers crumbling, and of people leaping to their deaths. I forced myself to watch because something in my brain would not allow me to believe it.

During that time I clung to my four month old son. You see, I felt such anger and such fear for our country and for our way of life. My husband and I carefully planned my son's birth. We wanted him to have the happiest of childhoods. I watched that day and realized that all of that was shattered - that my son would not know a world of peace as I had known it - and there was nothing I could do about it.

Looking back I fear that we have become complacient. Yes, I think that we do have to go about our lives. But I am no longer niave enough to believe that American soil is safe from aggressors. That saddens me.

So many heros that day, so many.

 

[tigerjen]

one half hour away.......EST

Bumping it up for those who want to post......