I remember
It was a beautiful sunny Tuesday, Tyler (he had just turned one) and I were getting ready to leave our townhouse in time for a realtor showing at 10:00AM of our townhouse.
After many sleepless nights living next to four college kids (and their friends), keg parties and 3 AM hot tubbings, we decided it was time to move, this was no way to live regardless of numerous times we’ve pleaded with them to have some neighborly consideration.
Then the phone rang. It was my brother calling from work telling me to turn on the TV, something about a plane crash in NY city. I turned on the TV and the first image was a plane had just lunged into the first tower, black smoke billowing as high as it can reach the sky. I gasped and told my brother what had just happened. I remember saying something to the effect of “ohmygod ohmygod, a plane had just crashed into the WTC!” Then the second plane hit and I screamed! It was so unreal, I thought I was watching a movie and it will be all over soon. My brother said he was leaving work to catch up on the news.
I stood in front of the TV, gripping the remote control tightly with mouth ajar and speechless trying to get all the details, but it was all so sketchy. Something about “this was planned…work of terrorists…and more plane crashes…coming from Boston.” And I thought of my sister and mother who work in Boston, and immediately called them to let them know that I was driving in to pick them up.
As I was driving into Boston listening to the radio, another report came in of Flight 93 crashing in Pennsylvania that was supposedly headed for the White House, my heart raced a bit faster not knowing if there were planes headed for Boston or not. It was chaotic until I was able to reach my sister and my Mom at work. We breathed a sigh of relief but with a very heavy heart.
We came back to my townhouse and sat motionless watching the horror played out over and over again on TV, still not comprehending what really happened. Then the two towers collapsed like a deck of cards sending big wave of black smoke leaving grey ashes of 2,996 (the final count was not known at the time) innocent people every where. It was like a war zone with people running aimlessly and in utter shock.
We all cried and prayed for the innocent souls on the ground/air and the loved ones they left behind. Oh, how my own trial and tribulations are so trivial now compare to this horrific act of cruelty on humanity.
I don’t think we can fathom the reasons behind these horrific acts. How can one justify anything as barbaric and heinous as this? We simply can’t justify but we shall never forget the 2,996 innocent people who lost their lives that fateful day, 9/11/2001.
I urge you to visit D.C. Roe’s website on Monday to read the 2,996 stories written by 2,996 volunteer bloggers to commemorate the lives of the 9/11 victims.
I leave you with this very poignant quote from Satish Kumar, as we pay tribute, celebrate and reflect on the lives of the 2,996 victims on the 5th anniversary of 9/11.
“Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth; Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust; Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace; Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.”
This “I Remember” tribute was inspired by Shannon.
It was a beautiful sunny Tuesday, Tyler (he had just turned one) and I were getting ready to leave our townhouse in time for a realtor showing at 10:00AM of our townhouse.
After many sleepless nights living next to four college kids (and their friends), keg parties and 3 AM hot tubbings, we decided it was time to move, this was no way to live regardless of numerous times we’ve pleaded with them to have some neighborly consideration.
Then the phone rang. It was my brother calling from work telling me to turn on the TV, something about a plane crash in NY city. I turned on the TV and the first image was a plane had just lunged into the first tower, black smoke billowing as high as it can reach the sky. I gasped and told my brother what had just happened. I remember saying something to the effect of “ohmygod ohmygod, a plane had just crashed into the WTC!” Then the second plane hit and I screamed! It was so unreal, I thought I was watching a movie and it will be all over soon. My brother said he was leaving work to catch up on the news.
I stood in front of the TV, gripping the remote control tightly with mouth ajar and speechless trying to get all the details, but it was all so sketchy. Something about “this was planned…work of terrorists…and more plane crashes…coming from Boston.” And I thought of my sister and mother who work in Boston, and immediately called them to let them know that I was driving in to pick them up.
As I was driving into Boston listening to the radio, another report came in of Flight 93 crashing in Pennsylvania that was supposedly headed for the White House, my heart raced a bit faster not knowing if there were planes headed for Boston or not. It was chaotic until I was able to reach my sister and my Mom at work. We breathed a sigh of relief but with a very heavy heart.
We came back to my townhouse and sat motionless watching the horror played out over and over again on TV, still not comprehending what really happened. Then the two towers collapsed like a deck of cards sending big wave of black smoke leaving grey ashes of 2,996 (the final count was not known at the time) innocent people every where. It was like a war zone with people running aimlessly and in utter shock.
We all cried and prayed for the innocent souls on the ground/air and the loved ones they left behind. Oh, how my own trial and tribulations are so trivial now compare to this horrific act of cruelty on humanity.
I don’t think we can fathom the reasons behind these horrific acts. How can one justify anything as barbaric and heinous as this? We simply can’t justify but we shall never forget the 2,996 innocent people who lost their lives that fateful day, 9/11/2001.
I urge you to visit D.C. Roe’s website on Monday to read the 2,996 stories written by 2,996 volunteer bloggers to commemorate the lives of the 9/11 victims.
I leave you with this very poignant quote from Satish Kumar, as we pay tribute, celebrate and reflect on the lives of the 2,996 victims on the 5th anniversary of 9/11.
“Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth; Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust; Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace; Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.”
This “I Remember” tribute was inspired by Shannon.
What a beautiful and sad memory at the same time. 9/11 was a tragedy and will never be forgotten.
Dale Roe over at 2996 has urged the bloggers to go ahead and post their tributes now since his project has started getting so much press. My own tribute is up now here.
after reading so many memories… it appears that all of our reactions were so similar
thanks for letting me drop in
That was such an awful day. I remember it in detail also.
I started to write about 9-11, but even four years later I find the memories are too fresh and painful. Thank you for this tribute.
Beautiful tribute– it certainly puts life into perspective and reminds us all what is really important– thank you
you did what I cannot. I still don’t have words. just like Nancy said.
This is a great post. So many of us are sharing such similar threads of experiences, despite bing from different parts of the country and world. It was a confusing and terrifying day.
I wrote a memory post as well.
Praying that prayer.
right now.
Thanks for remembering!!
And thanks for your support recently too- I always enjoy hearing from you, you’re so sweet.