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What Were You Doing When You Heard The News?

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I was preparing my breakfast, 3 egg omelet with cheese, tomato, ham, onion, 2 slices of whole wheat toast and coffee. My daughter called and said,"Dad, are you watching the news?"

(This is very much like the first view I had of the World Trade Center that morning)

Everyone I have talked to say they remember what they were doing that morning. What about you?

By RoeDapple

September 10, 2009

Stop Me If You've Heard This One

Discussion

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10 September 2009
at 9:41 p.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

Mrs Roe was supervising students on the school playground when another teacher brought her the news…
10 September 2009
at 10:10 p.m.

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riverdrifter (Anonymous) says…

I was driving through the Baker Wetlands near 31st & Haskell listening to KY102 when the news broke. I remember thinking that we will find out who is doing this and then bury them.
10 days later a friend and I went grouse hunting on the north shore of Lake Superior. I-35 was deserted clear to Duluth and then US 61 beyond on up the coast. It was downright erie. We shot lots of grouse…
10 September 2009
at 11:22 p.m.

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Boosh (Anonymous) says…

I worked night shift and the phone woke me, it was my dad, he said I think we're at war turn on your tv. I turned it on to see a replay of the second plane. All I could do was cuss repeatedly. I still get extremely pissed when I think about it. I know they say revenge is a dish best served cold but….
10 September 2009
at 11:36 p.m.

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chaelaw (Anonymous) says…

I was in my Freshman year at KU sleeping in after a night shift working at the front desk of GSP. I woke up and my Uncle called me asking if all was OK on campus—I turned on the TV and saw that the first plane had already hit. I went two doors down to a friend who is a NYC native and watched the second plane hit while we tried to reach her friends and family in the city. I will never forget that morning.
10 September 2009
at 11:36 p.m.

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Silly_me (Anonymous) says…

We had just got our kids off to school and my wife and I were discussing a fundraiser they were having for the PTA and whether we were going to participate. My wife had a question about it and called a friend of hers who was on the school PTA. This friend asked my wife if she was watching the TV and my wife told me to turn it on, something had happened. The station happened to be CNN and the first scene were both the towers smoking. I couldn't believe it. As the rest of the morning unfolded, I started to feel a huge sense of loss for my kids, as they were going to be forced to growup much quicker than they should.

I also remember stepping outside that morning and noticing several jet contrails that were in a circular pattern, as if the plane didn't know where to go. For some reason that really freaked me out…it just seemed so out of the ordinary.

The next day we went and picked up the newspaper for a neighbor who was out of town. They got the LJWorld and the NY Times. The picture of the front page of the Times was a closeup of one of the people who jumped from the Twin Towers. My 7 year old at the time saw that and became really, really upset because it just so bad and ominous. I was kicking myself for not screening that better.
10 September 2009
at 11:56 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

I was taking my car to the shop on Mass. My mom was watching my kids on the west side of town, and my step dad was meeting me at the shop to drive me home. I heard it about the time I passed the high school.

They had it on the radio at the shop. My step dad told me, you know, your brother (late 50's) is in NYC right now in that area.
Oh great, knowing my mom has lost too many spouses, children and grandchildren to take this.

We made a quick plan. He said, “Your brother will call as soon as he can”. He would drop me off at my house, hoping my tv would still be on Sesame Street, and I would leave it there until they called me to say my brother was alright. he went home to wait for the call.

I returned home, and yes, it was. Believe me, it was torture, not being able to watch the news. But in just a short while, my step dad rang to say he called. He had already returned to the state he lived in, no longer in NY, and he knew she would panic, so he called.

I had my mom sit down. I said mom, I've got something to tell you. I waited for her to pay attention. I started with..X is OK. Did you hear me? X is OK.

Then I told her about it,that he had called..and we turned the channel. We soon saw the second plane hit and all the rest.
When those buildings came down, my soul.. The horror. I used to work in a tall building..
11 September 2009
at 12:37 a.m.

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Newell_Post (Anonymous) says…

I was in the shower, with the radio on in the background. When I dried off and came out, I told Queen_Post “Turn on the TV. Any channel.” After a couple of minutes I said “This is no accident. Start stocking up. By this time tomorrow, we'll be at war with somebody.”

11 September 2009
at 9:05 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

A friend just emailed from the coast, said to say tell “Roe that's a good blog!”. ☺
11 September 2009
at 9:24 a.m.

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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

was doing the whole kids to school and health dept said forget that went home woke up husband he said no way I turned on the tv just as second plane hit then he goes well happy f**king 40th to me then the pentagon was hit I am on the phone calling mom and dad, they are calling people we know in the area then just as I have one leg over the baby gate the south tower falls and I stand there with one leg over the gate one still in the air in stunned silence and start crying because I know some many people are/where in the buildings. Sad day very sad day.
11 September 2009
at 9:27 a.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

I was working on the Plaza at the time. I walked in and someone told me a plane just crashed into the first building. We turned a TV on and were watching when the second one hit, then when they collapsed. We were hearing about the one in Pennsylvania and were all terrified about what was coming next. I remember seeing the contrails too. I believe it was a Friday? I then stayed up all weekend watching the coverage.
11 September 2009
at 9:28 a.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

Why do I never remember about the Pentagon being hit too? I had an ex-brother-in-law who worked there but was OK.
11 September 2009
at 9:35 a.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

I was amazed at how quiet it became that morning. No planes, very little street traffic. Later I heard a very powerful roar coming from the south. Looking through the binoculars I could make out the colors of AF-1 as it flew north to Nebraska. From the sound it was obvious AF-1 doesn't have the same engines as a standard 747.
11 September 2009
at 9:40 a.m.

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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

I remember also roe it was just kind of creepy it being so quiet.
11 September 2009
at 9:42 a.m.

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grammaddy (Anonymous) says…

I was watching GMA waiting for ER reruns to come on. At first we thought the first plane had accidentally flown into the WTC since it had always been an obstacle. My son came in and sat on the couch with me just in time to see the second plane crash into the other tower. We both grabbed each other and held on for a minute when we realized we were under attack.My daughter had just moved to Virginia a couple of weeks before. I immediately called her and persuaded her to come home right away. If there was a chance this country was about to perish, I wanted us to all go together. never forget!!!
11 September 2009
at 9:48 a.m.

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labmonkey (Anonymous) says…

Gootsie…it was a Tuesday. I had just got off work from the night shift, and for some reason I turned on the TV before I went to sleep. The first plane had just hit and I seen the second one hit live. A friend from college called me and we talked for a little while. I then tried to make my way to the blood center (I lived in Lawrence at the time) to give blood. I remember being pissed off at the price gougers and all the stupid people waiting in line for gas. “America was attacked, and all you can think about is getting gas.” When I got to the blood center, there was a huge wait and they brought us pizza. I met many nice people there that day and wish I would have stayed in contact with them.

11 September 2009
at 9:55 a.m.

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liggyon (David Lignell) says…

I was in a meeting with corporate sales planning the training for a new product launch. The executive admin interrupted after the second plane hit. She reasoned, as many people did at the time, that a plane hitting the building was spectacular, but most likely a freak accident. Probably figured we'd catch up on the news at lunch. After the second plane hit, she rushed in, apologized for the interruption, but then explained how it looked as if we were under a terrorist attack. Because our corporate headquarters is at 300 Park Avenue, we caught up on the developments through corporate lines, and then spent most of the day watching the developments in the cafe' with co-workers. Most left early for the day with be with their families.
11 September 2009
at 10:11 a.m.

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schula (Anonymous) says…

I was working at Pearson (now Vangent) and one of my co-workers asked me to check CNN online — they had heard on the radio that something had happened — we checked and saw the first plane had hit. Like everyone else, we thought it was an accident until the second plane hit. My boss at the time was in New Jersey visiting our customer and I had to work hard to get him a rental car so he could start driving home. I remember his wife calling me to see if I had heard from him and how hearing her voice made me start crying. I am sure she thought something was wrong. I later called her back to let her know he was ok and that he would be driving home. Later, I went to lunch with two co-workers to Carlos O'Kelly's and remember thinking how quiet it was in there and all the TVs' were turned to CNN.

Thanks for writing this blog, Roe. As usual, you have done a great job. I don't think anyone will ever forget where or what they were doing when this happened.
11 September 2009
at 10:16 a.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

It's history now move on.
11 September 2009
at 10:24 a.m.

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Soapdish (Anonymous) says…

Junior year of college. Ceramics class was at 8:30 so I had been walking to class when the first plane hit at around 7:46 our time.

I plopped down at the wheel, hucked a big piece of clay into the middle and waited for my perpetually late professor to arrive somewhere around 9 like he usually did.

He came bursting into class saying that he “was late THIS time” because someone flew a bi-plane into the WTC and that it was all over the news.

We had a good relationship, it's the art department after all so things were a little faster and looser than normal. I looked at him and said, “You're full of s#it.” “Normally I'd agree with you, butI'm not lying,” he said straight faced back at me. Still being the skeptic, I said, “Get me a radio or a tv or a computer. Until then, that's the worst excuse for being late I've ever heard.” He was gone in a flash. We all looked at each other blankly. Something was significantly wrong.

The dingiest radio on the planet was unearthed, covered in clay dust, wood dust, metal scraps, and paint… normal art house radio. He flipped it on and we all quickly converged. He was normally such a “do dah do dah” kind of guy that his speed was startling.

We turned it on just in time to hear Peter Jennings say, “Oh my God. There goes the tower.” Felt like the wind got sucked out of the room.

We worked slowly and quietly the rest of the time, only listening to the radio, Katie Couric, Peter, Tom Brokaw… One girl left immediately. Her parents worked downtown NYC. She was close to vomiting before she left class. We ended up finding out that her parents were spared.

I went ahead and went to class the rest of that day, hovering around computer labs and hoping for a pipeline to CNN.com, I ended up having a professor who did special ops in Vietnam… He was a good advisor as to what he knew we would see next. What to REALLY worry about and what to not.

I called Roe (dad) about 3:30 in the afternoon because I had to go to work and gas had just shot up almost 4 dollars at the station across the street. Was I supposed to buy gas? “Absolutely not. You go to work, you do your shift, this will stop in about 48 hours. Do you have enough gas for 2 days? You do? Good. Don't buy gas. They're just panicking.”

Work that night was one of the ODDEST nights of employment I think I've ever had.
11 September 2009
at 10:24 a.m.

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terrapin2 (Anonymous) says…

I was nursing our son, who was 5 weeks old at the time, watching Good Morning America. It was a Tuesday. They had the towers in the background and I watched it happen live. My brother had worked in tower 7 (the last one to fall) and was visiting New York the weekend before and I wasn't sure if he was home or not. His car had been in the garage during the “93 bombing, so needless to say I was a little freaked out. Turns out he was in Europe and couldn't get back into the US for several days.
11 September 2009
at 10:25 a.m.

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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

I think we have moved on arti but there is nothing wrong with taking one day a year to stop remember and mourn everything that happened on this day 8 years ago.
11 September 2009
at 10:41 a.m.

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vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

I was stationed at RAAF Richmond, Australia and was just about to head to bed for the night when the news broke of a fire at the first tower… it was rumored that a plane may have flown into the building but that wasn't confirmed yet. Then I watched on live TV as the second plane flew into the other tower and I was just devastated. I remember calling and waking my commander as well as the other members of our detachment and informing them of the news. Most of us stayed up all night watching the coverage. Former President Clinton was speaking in Alice Springs and we had to redirect a C-17 to go pick him up instead of flying back home that next morning.

Surprisingly the Australian TV stations showed direct feeds of the U.S. news stations 24/7 for about 3 or 4 days straight. You couldn't find an Australian show on any of the locals stations; just U.S. news. I called the TV stations and expressed my appreciation for their continued coverage.

Crappy thing to have happened on your birthday, but now no one forgets it.

Cheers to those that died in the towers, the pentagon, and the brave souls on flight 93 that saved countless lives by giving theirs.

*salute* To all the first responders.
11 September 2009
at 10:48 a.m.

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jonas_opines (Anonymous) says…

I had woken up exactly an hour late because my clock had jumped ahead as I was setting my alarm, so I unknowingly arrived to my first class an hour late, and was very surprised when everybody got up and left 20 minutes after I got there. I went to see my friend who was an RA at McCollum, and he told me about what was going on. I spent the rest of the day at Henry's and then ignoring work at Free State Brewery, watching TV footage and trying to make sense of it all.

11 September 2009
at 10:48 a.m.

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jimmyjms (Anonymous) says…

Artichokeheart, that's a pretty goddamned stupid thing to say.
11 September 2009
at 10:50 a.m.

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jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says…

On 9/11, I was in an English class taking a test over the Scarlet Letter. I've always been a quick worker, and quick test-taker, and finished early. I walked out to the commons area where a number of students and teachers were gathered around a TV, watching news coverage of the attacks. I stayed out there too long before walking back to class, only to get glares from my teacher. I then told her and the whole class the news.

The other clear recollection I have of that day is walking into a French class. He was a loud, experienced teacher who taught his way or the highway. I can clearly remember, however, tears on his face as we watched the news coverage. He didn't teach any French that day.
11 September 2009
at 10:57 a.m.

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schula (Anonymous) says…

Well said, Momma!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvj6zd…

This song is very appropriate for this blog, Roe.
11 September 2009
at 11:01 a.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Excellent book, Jonathan. I hope you scored well on it.

I was receiving calls from parents who have children the same ages of mine. They worked out of town and wanted to know if their children could come to my house since they know I am at home and live close to the inclusive schools.

I couldn't believe my ears or eyes when I received the call about the first plane and turned on the television in time to see the perfect strike by the second.

I considered getting a full tank of gas and heading for Bird City, Kansas - you can always find me there if it comes to the world ending. Guess that is where I want to go, be, die! ;)

I remember the fear in my heart of not knowing what was happening, how long it would last, where the next strike would be. Fear for my children - that this would be the end of the world as we knew it. In some ways it has been.

A favorite aunt has this day as her birthday. She is deceased now, but I couldn't help but wonder over the years how this event forever changed her thoughts of her own birthday.
11 September 2009
at 11:14 a.m.

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vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

justbegin-

I'll tell you how it affects mine since your aunt and I share the same birthdate.

The only thing I notice is instead of getting “Happy Birthday” right off from people when they find out 9/11 is my b-day I get “Oh, I'm sorry… what a terrible thing to have happened on your birthday.”

I don't feel mad that it happened on my birthday or that it “ruined” it for me… I feel bad for the men, women, and children who died that day and for their families who suffered through the endless hours of not knowing where there loved ones were only to receive the worst possible news.
11 September 2009
at 11:19 a.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

Well jimmyjms maybe if the U.S. didn't constantly stick their noses in other countries problems the whole thing would never have happened. The dishonor & all you know:)
11 September 2009
at 11:34 a.m.

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grammaddy (Anonymous) says…

Save your “maybe ifs” for another day artichokewithnoheart.Today we have chosen to honor those we lost on 9/11/01. Show a little respect okay?
11 September 2009
at 11:35 a.m.

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altheasus (Althea Schnacke) says…

I actually slept through (really, skipped) my early class that morning, so when I woke up it was right before the plane hit the Pentagon. When that happened,, I woke up my girlfriend at the time and told her we were at war. I went to class and work to see what everyone was talking about. It was amazing how many people had cell phones out that day (since they were just catching on) trying to get in touch with their loved ones.

11 September 2009
at 11:40 a.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

Gram pace your sorrow there will be more of this to come with Obama at the helm.
11 September 2009
at 11:41 a.m.

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brujablanco (Anonymous) says…

Try to stay on topic artichoke. I realize it is difficult to stay on topic and be contrary, but do give it your best shot. Or, just click right on past this thread if you think it is such a waste of time.

I was at work at the State Capitol. Didn't believe it at first.
11 September 2009
at 11:44 a.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

I am on topic Bru. Try connecting the dots it might help you see the whole picture.
11 September 2009
at 11:47 a.m.

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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

No artichoke the topic is “What where you doing” not what do you think.
11 September 2009
at 11:57 a.m.

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denak (Anonymous) says…

My son was in 5th grade and I took him to school. One of his friends came up to him and asked him if he had heard about the plane that hit a building in New York. Neither of us had. When I went home to get ready for work, I turned on the news to see what was happening…..like a lot of people, I figured a pilot had a stroke or it was some freak accident or something… and it was on every channel. I was just stunned. I just sat down and started watching the news. I actually called into work and said I was sick and sat there watching all day. Not the healthiest thing I ever did. And then of course, everyone started calling everyone else, talking about it. I wouldn't let my son watch t.v. when he got home because I didn't want him to see it. Of course, as soon as he went to bed, I turned it back on.
Probably watched way to much coverage.

Dena
11 September 2009
at 12:21 p.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

Thank you, mommaeffortx2…..
11 September 2009
at 12:26 p.m.

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classclown (Anonymous) says…

I've heard it said that everyone would always remember where they were and what they were doing when they head that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.

I believe that most of the people who comment on this site were either too young when it happened such as myself, or weren't born yet so we never related to that.

I think that 9/11 is like that for us. I believe that as evidenced by this blog and the ensuing comments that none of us will ever forget and will always remember exactly where we were and what we were doing at the time we heard about it happening.

As for me, I had just moved into my house here in Lawrence that weekend before. For some reason my mother in law spent the night at my house the night before and as I worked third shift it was arranged that I would go to her house in the morning to feed and water her animals.

As I was leaving her property I heard about the second tower being hit and one of the morning hosts started speculating about terrorism. At first is was more of a ' wtf ' moment until more details started coming in.

When I got home I told my wife and her mother about what happened. We had no tv at the time as the cable was scheduled to be set up later that day. So I listened to the events on the radio until the cable guy showed up. After the cable was installed I turn the tv on to CNN and watched as they kept showing the clip of the plane slamming into the second tower and later as the towers came crashing down.

There are two other things that will always stand out in my mind about that day.

The first is the way people flocked to blood banks all across the country. So many that lines literally went down the street at those places and officials had to tell people that they simply couldn't take any more blood that day as they were at capacity and asking those that were unable to donate to please come back in a week or two as more blood would certainly be needed by then.

Secondly is the way many gas stations used the tragedy as an opportunity to jack up the price of gas to five dollars or more. I have identified those in the area that did this and to this day have refused to patronize to establishments. Nor will I ever.
11 September 2009
at 12:35 p.m.

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GardenMomma (Anonymous) says…

I was one month pregnant (just found out a week before) and standing in my living room, watching my two-year old play with her toys. As I watched the second plane crash into the tower, I could only think what kind of world am I bringing this new baby into?

We watched it all morning and I was just wondering what was going to happen next and how can I keep my children safe in a world where this could happen.

I felt so sorry for all the people who died. I remember watching papers fall to the ground and people fall from the towers and I was horrified at the absolute nothing that could be done to save them. I said a prayer for those who died and those who could not escape and for all those affected by what happened.

11 September 2009
at 12:43 p.m.

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Satirical (Anonymous) says…

I remember hearing about a plane (the first one) hitting the WTC briefly on the radio on my way to work. I assumed it was a small single engine plane. Shortly thereafter I listened as the department next to mine turn up the volume on a TV in their area.

I instantly tried to check the internet, but news websites were all down because of the heavy traffic. I remember calling my wife, who was at home with our 1 year old son and saying to her, “You need to turn on the TV.”

I remember listening to the events unfold, as the second plane hit, then as the Pentagon was hit, and finally as the towers collapsed. But I wasn’t able to see any images until I arrived home around 5:30 p.m. I recall my astonishment once I saw all the images. I remember how angry I was at those who committed this horrible act. I also remember the President’s speech that evening, and remember how I glad I was when he said we would not distinguish from the terrorist and those who harbor them.
11 September 2009
at 12:44 p.m.

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TomShewmon (Tom Shewmon) says…

In St. Louis, getting ready to head to Columbia to interview with the Kansas City branch manager of what would result in my next job and move to KC in October of 2001. At least we had something to talk about beside stupid job/resume stuff.
11 September 2009
at 12:45 p.m.

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allateup (Anonymous) says…

I had just gotten home from the hospital (the night before) and had 3 kids at home. I was wondering what the heck I was doing bringing another child into this world? Very sad for a brand new mother let alone any mother! I do think that the USA is a great place to live and will always remember those that sacrificed that day and through the years. god bless america!!!
11 September 2009
at 12:56 p.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

classclown,
I was in C.C.Breighthaupt's Printing class (back when they still used linotype) when the news came over the intercom that JFK had been shot. I had a linotype spacer in my hand and bent it in two as the announcement was made..
I didn't even realize I had done it until old C.C.B. started scolding me for it…
11 September 2009
at 1:42 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

“It's history now move on.”

Well, it's not exactly history for many. I didn't know it that day, because we were separated by time and distance, but my close relative was high up a the pentagon, and his offices were those hit head on by the plane. He happened to had left his office just ten minutes prior to the plane hitting for a meeting, or he would have perished also.
The place was gone/melted.

He lost his entire staff, and many many dear friends and co workers. He was there, searching for people. The aftermath of it all. I can only imagine what he goes through each year.

I can only imagine what I would have felt, seeing the news that day, worried about his safety had I known his location at the time.
11 September 2009
at 2:28 p.m.

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porch_person (Anonymous) says…

I slept through it. Mercifully.

I know a little of the history that Bin Laden used as rationale for the attacks but in my opinion, he can't be dead enough. It pisses me off that he's still running around free.
11 September 2009
at 2:33 p.m.

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jonas_opines (Anonymous) says…

I found a very good opinion piece a week or two ago that I haven't had the chance to bring up, but the comments by artichokeheart, on this thread, seems like as good of an illustration for the ideas expressed in the piece to put it in here.

http://calacanis.com/2009/01/29/we-li…

(quick excerpt) Godwin’s Law Meets Harris’ Law
————————
“Josh’s experiments in 2000, during which he and his cohorts became obsessed with their view counts, parallels today’s blogging, social media and YouTube “arms race.” In his experiment, the technology robbed the subjects–and their audience–of every last ounce of empathy.

Digital communications is a wonderful thing–at least at the start. Everyone participating in digital communities is eventually introduced to Godwin’s Law: At some point, a participant, or more typically his or her thinking, will be compared to the Nazis. But that’s only part of the breakdown. Eventually, you see the effect of what I’ll call Harris’ Law: At some point, all humanity in an online community is lost, and the goal becomes to inflict as much psychological suffering as possible on another person.”

It's an interesting read. I think most of us can see some of ourselves at least on occasion in this.
11 September 2009
at 2:40 p.m.

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porch_person (Anonymous) says…

Excellent article, Jonas. Thanks.

11 September 2009
at 3:28 p.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

Excuse me that I don't simply bow to the grand old U.S.A. How many have died in the current occupation? How many die on the streets due to violence every day?

Where were you then? Does it matter? Not really because you weren't there to do anything to stop it. Even if you were most of those posting here would be too busy blogging to do anything. Godwin, Harris and any other like them would be too busy calculating statistics.
11 September 2009
at 3:33 p.m.

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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

and the topic of this article is what arti?
11 September 2009
at 3:42 p.m.

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Sagecasey (Anonymous) says…

I was at home not in to work until 11am. I turned on the TV and honestly thought, how odd Die Hard is on CNN and then as I continued watching the realization and horror of what was happening hit me. My heart dropped watching the towers fall. I have a friend who had moved to NYC a month before. He was 5 blocks away at the time. It was so incredibly hard to wrap my head around what was going on, total disbelief.
11 September 2009
at 3:44 p.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

Dallas, Texas. I went to pick up some materials and was on my way back to my crew that were working, believe it or not, right across the street from the WTC in Dallas. I got a call from a woman informing me I'd won a cruise and as she was taking down my info she asked if I knew that we'd been attacked. I immediately called my men out of the field and got to the hotel right before the first tower went down.
We were in an extended stay hotel right outside DFW. It was so eerie not to have the constant sight and sound of planes coming in over our heads the rest of our stay.
11 September 2009
at 5:09 p.m.

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Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

The sky was intensely blue that morning, that pure shade that often heralds fall. Later, I would read New Yorkers' statements that their day started with that same, saturated blue sky. I was taking my kids to school when we heard breaking news that a “small plane” had hit the WTC, maybe a sightseeing plane. That happens sometimes.

By the time I was dropping my toddler at his sitter's, the second plane had hit, but my mind still could not wrap around what was happening. I arrived at work, where things quickly became surreal. We couldn't accomplish anything but we couldn't leave—I don't think it really sank in (familiar feeling?) until much later. We kept trying to get CNN's website but it was overwhelmed. Radios were on all over the bldg and a couple people ran home and got portable TVs.

I called my husband, who had flown to CA the day before to work at a secure facility in Palmdale (something to do with Skunk Works). He was still in his hotel room working on his laptop and had no idea. He turned on his TV and joined the rest of the shocked world.

By the time the Pentagon hit and the PA crash had happened, reporters were spewing wild ideas of more imminent strikes. I worried about my spouse, since the facility he worked at would be a logical west-coast target. Turned out, he and his colleagues stayed at the hotel. The Palmdale compound was under lockdown and no one with low-level security clearance was admitted..

Like many, on the evening of 9/11 and the days to follow, I could not stop watching the endless loop of horrifying scenes—the planes' impact, the black smoke and raging fires, people running through Manhattan like animals from a forest fire, the desperate souls leaping from the infernos, high up, graceful, dignified arcs before impact. Then the towers collapsing into themselves, unleashing an inky shockwave that rolled over everything in its path.

And later, the transmissions of last phone calls—from the towers, from Flight 93. The mostly calm voices of victims who knew death was imminent and shared but one thought—to say goodbye to loved ones.

I think we were all in shock and feeling helpless. We held our kids tighter and tried to give them reassurance we didn't feel. For days, the skies, empty of contrails and the sounds of planes, seemed impossibly empty. So blue and so beautiful.
11 September 2009
at 5:09 p.m.

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Valkyrie_of_Reason (Kathy Getto) says…

Jonas - the article was great, however sad it may be that we truly are losing our communities. This, from the article, says it all, IMO:

“In summary, how we treat each other does matter. It matters because, without empathy, our lives are shallow, self-centered and meaningless.”

So, you see, artichokeheart, it DOES matter where we were and it is perfectly okay for people to talk about it in an effort to keep alive our humanity.
11 September 2009
at 5:42 p.m.

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notjustastudent (Anonymous) says…

I was sitting in my International Politics class when I heard someone in front of me tell the professor that a plane had hit one of the towers, and our professors reaction was “Oh no. Must have been a sightseeing plane…” He then proceeded to lecture us on how the US was a superpower, and history showed that superpowers never remained unchallenged for too long, and that the challenge could come from many sorces.

You can imagine how surreal it was for all of us to step out of class an hour later, and see planes circling in the sky above us, and people huddled together crying, and the bus drivers solemnly listening to the radio. I remember the radio DJ saying something to the effect of “I know we joke around a lot, but this is not a joke. The US has been attacked.” I went to my Media and society class that afternoon, and we watched TV on the giant screen in Budig, making it all that much larger, that much more horrific.

I had flown back to KC on Sept 9. I remember my carryon was technically too large, and my name had been misspelled on the reservation. But it hadn't mattered then, they let me on the plane, no questions asked. I was never one of those people who asked “how could this have happened?” The next time I flew, things were, well, different…
11 September 2009
at 6:08 p.m.

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TomShewmon (Tom Shewmon) says…

How touching all the lefists connecting on this today.

11 September 2009
at 7:10 p.m.

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LisaGreenwood (Lisa Greenwood) says…

My high school seminar students were working diligently on homework when the announcement came over the intercom that teachers should turn on the classroom TVs as something of national importance had happened. We watched, puzzled, as commentators tried to make sense of what had happened — pure speculation at that point — then watched completely stunned as we saw the second plane hit. It was surreal. How do you react to an event like that when so much of our popular culture includes similar images for entertainment? Even my most cynical students had nothing to say.

I remember my students' reactions throughout the day and the days that followed ranged the full spectrum of astonishment to zeal for revenge. And I remember trying to figure out how to balance maintaining a sense of normalcy with the feeling that I or my students might fall apart at any moment.

I shared those thoughts with one of my junior high classes today, now a group of students who were only in preschool then. They had come into class with rather cavalier attitudes toward the video that their social studies teacher had shown them, and I wanted them to understand what an impact that day had on our lives — how so many things changed after that. So much of what they have grown up knowing about how things are in the world were connected to the events of that day. I'm glad that they didn't have to experience it, but it's important that they understand the impact.
11 September 2009
at 9:07 p.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

Johnny-Boy
by Terry E. Wilbur

The sky is falling Johnny-Boy
The air is dark with mournful wails
You rush to rescue helpless souls
Up in the sky the death-bird sails

You still fight on to aid the weak
The powerless and feeble lie
Undaunted by their wretched fate
You charge ahead while towers die

Upon the weary men and maids
The death knell of the stone and steel
Comes down in fiery wrath and woe
Unheeding of their pleas for weal

Oh, Johnny-Boy, we loved you, lad
And though the demons won the day
Your selfless love still keeps us warm
In all the wreckage and dismay

Forever now, shall all the lads
Who even in their deaths were brave
Walk hand in hand all clothed in white
With those poor souls they strove to save
12 September 2009
at 9:35 a.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

Ah Humanity. Think I will pass on taking lessons on humanity from those who support the killing of children. As I already stated there is more of the same to come with Obama at the helm so those who would dwell on this might want to batton down the hatches cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
12 September 2009
at 9:46 a.m.

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Machiavelli_mania (Anonymous) says…

I was taking care of a mother who recently got home from major surgery. Upon hearing it, after first thinking “What hs Bush done now?!”, I avoided the TV, gassed up three vehicles, purchased a massive quantity of mult-Vits and Minerals, both disposable and cloth diapers, and toilet paper. I didn't hang out and watch TV. I was preparing for the worst that Bush could do to us.
12 September 2009
at 9:44 p.m.

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Bunny_Hotcakes (Anonymous) says…

I'm Roe's daughter that called and interrupted his breakfast. I posted this on Facebook on Friday, but I figure it works here as a comment too.

*~*~*~*~*~*~
8 years ago today, I was working as a computer geek at KU. My coworker burst into my office and said “you'll want to come see this.” They had CNN on the TV. I saw the first tower on fire. I went back to my office to call my dad, and the 2nd plane hit while I was on the phone. I then sat at my desk and cried, praying nobody would see me. I remember thinking “the whole world just changed. Forever and ever, nothing will be the same.” I wished I had a crystal ball so I could see into the future.

I got most of my news from Fark.com that day, as some of the commenters figured out that if you went to robots.cnn.com instead of www.cnn.com, you could see a stripped down version of the stories they were posting. For the most part, though, major news sites were getting DoSed by all the traffic. Going outside was freaky, too—given our proximity to Kansas City International Airport, it was easy to see all the curled contrails of the planes that had been grounded. The complete lack of air traffic and the quietness that accompanied that was unsettling and a reminder that something was terribly, terribly wrong.

I logged onto a favorite message board to find out that a fellow poster's fiance worked in one of the Towers and hadn't checked in yet. He never did.

A few weeks later for reasons I'll never quite understand, they scheduled a flyby of a B-1 bomber at a pep rally or football game or something. The pilot was a KU grad and wanted to show off, so he pulled vertical and poured on the afterburner, scaring the daylights out of anyone who was anywhere near Memorial Stadium, including me. I don't remember if anybody ever apologized for that stunt. The flyby had been publicized, but I thought it was pretty sh!tty timing.

To this day, it is hard to watch the footage and not think “please, please let them miss this time.”

And now, your moment of zen.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu…
12 September 2009
at 10:52 p.m.

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mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

It was my day off, and I had just taken the kids to school when I turned on the tv, and one of the early shows was talking about a small plane hit the trade center. Didn't get to watch very much. Then I got called in to work. There were no customers. Hubby called me to give me updates. I should have said no to work. I worried about what my gradeschoolers were hearing at school, and what was happening in their world.
13 September 2009
at 12:50 p.m.

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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

September 11, 2001 for me started on September 9th. Late Sunday afternoon I was sitting in the cabin of a American Airlines flight from MCI to ORD. We were late pushing away from the gate because 4 or 5 passengers of Middle Eastern descent were arguing with the flight crew and each other about seating assignments. After 20-30 minutes of continuous moving of carry on between overheads and changing seats multiple times the crew and even a few passengers were getting annoyed. Adding to the chaos a few even shouted at them to sit down and buckle up so we could get in line for takeoff. I remember thinking that if this had been a couple of decades earlier I would have been worried about being hijacked.

But I was working on the laptop and hoping my hotel and rental car company would hold my reservations, and briefly remembering back to Munich 1972 when boarding my flight back to Chicago I saw the German military with sub machine guns checking international passengers at Munich Riem-Airport after “Black September”, a Palestinian fedayeen from refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, were killed along with their Israeli Olympic team hostages.

Fast forward 29 years and two days later and I am running late to HA training but stop at the hotels hospitality room for some OJ and coffee. The TV is showing the WTC on fire and I began to wonder how many years ago had I been just down the block in One Liberty Plaza and heard stories of near misses by small aircraft of the towers. Just then the TV shows a jet slamming into the south tower, the room gasps but I assume it is a replay of the original “accident” until I hear the announcer tell the audience that the second tower has just been hit. He then says that sources at the FBI say Osama bin Laden is behind the attack. Stunned and shocked I walk through empty hallways to my training and find everyone watching a TV and calling home.

I do the same and then call work where I am told they are locked down, no one is allowed in or out, and that armed guards with sub machine guns are enforcing the order. My class is canceled, we are told the building might be a target, and we evacuate the building that is just 20 miles off of one of the busiest runways in the world. Back in my hotel room I turn on the TV and VPN into the network. My systems are up and running, just. I watch the final tower collapse, as reports from Virginia and Pennsylvania trickle in, and coworkers send me photos of jumpers. You can cry me a river and use it to water board Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the “principal architect” of the 9/11 attacks, over CIA enhanced interrogation techniques.
13 September 2009
at 1:05 p.m.

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lawrencemom2 (Anonymous) says…

The kids and I were just leaving for work and school. My husband wasn't working that day - I heard the report that the World Trade center was on fire. By the time I got downstairs, the second plane had hit. My husband, more in tune to these things, said “Osama Bin Laden” and I said “Who is Osama Bin Laden?”. Not a household name at the time. My jr. high guy got to hear reports throughout the day but the 6th grader was miffed that they weren't allowed updates.

13 September 2009
at 1:16 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

wow sig, just wow..
13 September 2009
at 10:21 p.m.

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rcrum (Anonymous) says…

I'm glad you posted this, Roe.
This weighs heavily on my mind every September. I worked in NYC for about 3 months in early 2001 and got quite attached to the city and it's people. I got injured at work and ended up moving back home that March.
I moved to Wichita in August of 2001 and was enrolled at WSU. I didn't have class that day and slept in until 10am. I was awoke by my clock radio and the person on the radio was talking about a plane hitting the tower in NYC. I immediately jumped up and flipped on the TV. As I turned it on, they were showing the Pentagon burning. That was the worst feeling in my life. I got goose bumps all over and realized that we were at war and our world would never be the same.
I walked outside my apartment in a daze and all the neighbors could do was look at each other in disbelief. The campus was so quite and nobody was talking. It was so weird hearing no planes for days on end, since Wichita is the airplane capital of the world.
I'll never forget speaking to a my friend from Palestine. He was so scared of being associated with these terrorists. All he could talk about was how evil they were and how they didn't represent Islam.
It's pretty hard to make it through each anniversary with dry eyes.It's so unfortunate that there is so much infighting in NYC and the city can't come to an agreement on a way to rebuild the towers after 8 years.