remembering 9/11

I cant believe it has been 6 years.. it seems like so long ago but in the same sense, it seemed like yesterday. I was at work, 23 years old.. and basically a nutball that did what I wanted.. never really felt threatened until that morning (meaning, I thought nothing like that would ever happen *here*). I watched on CNN.com the live footage and my heart sank with the first plane. I called my mom who then told me the second plane hit. At first, I thought, it is a bad accident until the second one hit. Never did I think the towers themselves would fall shortly after. I was scheduled to donate blood that morning. So, I went and I got hooked up and while laying on the bed/table, donating, the pentagon wa**** At that moment, I thought, how odd that I am giving what they may possibly be needing most in the coming days.. and it was previously scheduled.. fluke, probably. I drove home immediately after I gave blood and the sky was so beautiful, clear and blue but it seemed so threatening and quiet all the same. I for the first time in my life was scared and it was something I never felt before .. sure I had been scared before but not to this magnatude. I went directly to my mom who was at work and stayed with her for a while before going home to watch more footage. That day changed my life although I am not one that knew anyone personally that was in the tragedy or had someone close to them die in the tragedy. ***this was not meant to put a damper on the board.. but it was on my mind this morning as I am sure it is on yours as well**** Beckie

Morning Beckie, I was going to the dentist on 9/11. I too would look to the sky and think how quite and beatiful the day was. I was watching CNN that morning when the first plane hit. I think the whole nation went through all the same emotions. First amazement and wondering what the heck happened then realization that it was an intentional attack then fear of what was going to happen next. All the while horrified and hurting for those that were victims. Then anger and the knee jerk reaction to strike back. Such an emotional time for us all. I think in the end the prevailing emotion was sadness. I think we as a nation lost a sense of innocense that day. The terorist state of mind truely struck home that day and we as a nation had it put right in our face. Our world was forever changed that day. I think the sadness of our loss of life and our loss of innocense is what will make that day forever remembered. Thanks for giving us the oportunity to talk about that day. Hugs, Sparky

Hi Becky... I was thinking about it all this morning myself, especially since I have a son serving in Iraq. My reaction was probably a bit different from everyone elses.. I was married to a middle easterner when we had the gulf war. We were constantly living in fear, getting threatening phone calls, death threats etc.... So when 9/11 happened something told me to prepare for the worst. I ran to the schools and took the boys out and brought them home for a couple of days.. I was more fearful than the boys, mostly because they didnt remember what happened years before and I dont think 1 of them had even been born yet... a few days later a moslem women was killed in Michigan (I think) by an man who flipped out.. If we went to the store I never said the boys names out loud in fear someone would follow us home... It was sad but I was in fear of my own people more than any terrorist. When the boys went back to school they got stares and one kid asked my oldest where he was from.. he told him I was born in Florida why??? Fortunately the boys were well known in their schools and didnt face anything dangerous.. but things did change for them, they started noticing a lot more prejudice than they ever faced before. I can't tell you how hard it was then and the fear I lived with, locking and checking doors, checking to be sure someone wasnt following us home from the store.. and God help me if I slipped and said one the boys names outloud in public. We had a rule NEVER say their names in public....NEVER... When the boys wrestled and they called their names to come up and check in their coach had the announcer say their middle names... I understand the fear we all felt in those days, I just wish people could understand not all middle easterners were terrorists... I also had a friend who lost a loved one it was a heartbreaking time for all of us... Debby

Morning Beckie momma to Ms.Mallory Thanks for sharing on such a memorable day.. I didn't even realize it was 09/11 until I was at my desk this morning and noticed the date. what I remember of that day was being at work.. calling on past due accounts.. and then going on a smoke break around 11ish or sooo and hearing what happened.. I was oblivious to it all.. and then our work brought a small tv into the lunchroom so we can get updates now and then.. I was just stunned.. couldn't believe it.. yet it seemed surreal. Like it was "just tv". We see so much on tv.. movies.. big screen of similar and it was hard for me to grasp watching (after the fact) that this was REAL.. real people, not actor(ess) that were dying.. jumping from the buildings.. screaming.. crying.. running down the streets of NYC. I was just in shock and awe.. and then when the stories started coming out.. people and dogs searching but not even finding any bodies.. not even dead.. and that they had to fake body recoveries for the dogs else they go into a depression.. and that families were trying to find loved ones.. and that firefighters and police officers lost so many lives.. it is/was heartbreaking. I recently watched on HBO (or some channel) the movie of the flight that crashed in the field in PA. Again.. my mind is thinking "just a movie.." but I tell myself.. this really happened.. or something very similar to it.. that people actually did experience this.. and died. Sometimes.. altho I love action movies.. I hate that it has numbed me from the effects of reallife situations.. but when I watch a documentary.. or so on this I will still cry today. Especially if a marching funeral and bagpipes are involved

I was in class at illinois state university. When I got to my second class my friend asked me if I had heard about the plane hitting. i had not. my teacher put the radio on and let us listen then the second plane hit. I could not believe it. I raced home and watched the news. i called my family to tell them that I loved that. when my roommate came home we just sat and watched the tv. i went to my afternoon class the teacher told us we could leave if we wanted to. We all just sat and talked about our feelings. i did not feel safe. they had said at one point that they thought a plane was headed to the sears tower in chicago and I could not believe it.

I was home recovering from a foot surgery and I was on the phone with My Beautiful Step-Mom, Carol, it was her birthday (happy birthday Mom I miss you) and I saw the plane crash into the tower, I sat there with my mouth open wondering what the hell just happen. I watchd everything I could find on it, every news cast, every movie made. It hurt me so much watching those families in such pain. Thanks for reminding us all this is a day we should never forget..it reminds us to be thankful for all the blessings we each have in our lives....our families....our friends. Hugs. Barb

Thanks so much Beckie!!!! I am glad you posted about this.....when this happened, I had just been moved to Austin for a few short months, not knowing hardly anyone there, moved from my friends and family and just started a new exciting job! I saw the first plane hit, then the second one. Later that day I was to be on a plane heading from Austin to Greensboro, NC for work. My family knew I was suppose to be flying that day but did not know the details and were freaking out because they could not get ahold of me. It was so scary.....I know that day changed me forever and ever and now being married to a man fighting for our country and hearing some of the stories (the ones I can hear about...some are secretive) of him being in Iraq for 1.5 years makes me so proud. Although I did not know anyone personally impacted by the losses we were hit with in our country that day, I often reflect and pray for the families that were. One of my all time favorite sites is below...I cry everytime....God Bless them and those men and women fighting for our country in and out of the USA. http://www.firehouse.com/terrorist/images/cry.html Love ya all, Mrs. Nate

I was 2 miles away making a delivery in Brooklyn NY when the towers came down. I sat in New York in my Semi truck for 2 days waiting for Law enforcement to let us out. I will never forget the sights and smells of those days. I spent the day yesterday at the Gerald R Ford Museum with The Boy Scouts we performed a continuous salute from sunup to sundown in Respect for the people who lost their lives.