September 11
My story isn't unique. I'm sure that we all remember where we were, what we were doing when we heard about the attack on the World Trade Center.
I was working at an elementary school in Knoxville, TN. I remember having lots to do that morning, phone calls, copies to make, and lessons to plan. One of my co-workers told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York. I was standing in the copy room and I thought she was mistaken. She turned on the Today Show. There were images of smoke billowing out of one of the towers. We talked about how odd it was for a plane to hit a building. Had the pilot suffered some sort of health issue and was not able to fly the plane? Had there been a terrible mix-up by air traffic controllers?
As the tragedy of the attack on this country unfolded that day, I felt fear, shock, anger, and confusion, as probably most everyone did. We were told to not say anything to the children, as our principal felt it was their parent's responsibility to make the decision on how to handle telling them. We were told to act normal for the children. Oddly enough, acting normal is what I think got me through the day.
That night, and for weeks afterwards, I was glued to my TV. I couldn't stop watching the non-stop coverage. I remember being very disturbed by a report by Rehema Ellis on NBC where victim's family members were pleading with the public to help them find their missing loved ones, showing worn and tattered pictures or make-shift missing posters. The desperation of these people has never left me.
Tate eventually made me stop watching TV. We bought our first house a few weeks after the attack, and the stress of moving made me focus on something besides the loss and devastation. I'm sure the news will be filled today with stories and reports from September 11. I still can't really watch this stuff, the wound still feels fresh. I'll always remember.
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I'm going to hug my children and my husband a little harder today. I'll count my blessings. Back to my regular scheduled bitching tomorrow.
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Great post. I think this day bubbles up all sorts of strong emotions for everyone. I too can remember every detail of that morning, that day, that week. Making sure my friends and family in NYC were ok. Pregnant with my son and so unsure of the state of the world.
Lots of extra hugs today, for sure.
I had a job tutoring children in reading and comprehension skills on September 11, so I can relate to this. As luck would have it, I didn't have to go in until late that morning so I saw it happening on The Today Show (yep, lovin Matt Lauer for years). I remember being confused about what I was seeing, as I overheard it from the next room when the first plane struck.
Later that morning, I was actually nervous driving the streets of Mobile toward the airport (and toward my job) because, well, nothing seemed safe anymore.
And yes, it was the instruction to act normal for the kids that got me through.
You just let me know the next time you want me to write a blog post in your comments, m'kay? Lord, Megan.
I cried writing my own post on this this morning - and have cried at every post I've read since.
I feel like a fraud because I didn't lose anyone that day - yet we all did lose something I think...
Bossy is *still* watching the non-stop coverage (MSNBC is doing a "real-time" rebroadcast of that morning.)
OMG Bossy. I can't believe they're playing it again.....
I remember where I was, who I was with - everything.
The weeks after, I was completely glued to my TV, crying all the time.
I didn't know anyone, and I'm not even American, but it's effects have gone MUCH further then the US borders.
i, too was teaching at that moment. i have 2 bizarre stories attached to it. but the one i'll share is that-yes, since i taught 1st grade, we didn't tell (obviously) and were asked to not turn on the tv....
but then, we got evacuated to a local middle school. see, even tho i'm in GA, our school is a mile away from the FAA center that controls much of the eastern seabord... that "field trip" will always stand out in memory.
but, you know- luckily, the kids NEVER asked about that situation. i think they knew it was too tough to discuss.
I was teaching too.
We saw the entire thing happen from a colleagues classroom window.
Etched in my memory forever.
Hey, I was teaching too! A coworker walked into my classroom and told me what happened. I couldn't believe it. We spent the day watching the coverage in the staffroom and I too had to pull myself away from the non-stop coverage. It was just too upsetting - and I don't even live in the US. Such hateful acts that happen to innocent people, no matter where they happen, make me sick to my stomach. I'm thinking of all my American friends today.
I was at home that day and my husband woke me up to tell me what was going on - that was 2 kids and a lifetime ago, yet I'll never forget. I'm not American, yet it still seems to hit home.
Thoughts with all those who were affected, in anyway, by it.
thank you.
I just posted a very similar story. But since I am 3 hours behind the attack, the students in my fourth grade class already knew what happened...
Beautiful post. And very appropriate. It's so good to be reminded of how fortunate we are, craziness and all.
Great, heartfelt post Jen.
If I were seeing you today, I'd give you a hug too. You're one of my blessings!
I agree. I think I will hug my family and keep them close today!
I couldn't have made a better tribute myself.
It is amazing, and touching, to read people's accounts of where they were and how they reacted.
Touching post. I too remember where I was that day and the emotions of it all. I really feel for those families that lost their love ones and count my blessing everyday!
I was about to leave Seattle on a flight to Atlanta. We were told by the pilot that all air traffic across the US had been stopped. I had no idea what was really happening until we stepped off the plane and saw a TV in a bar at the airport. All the CNN TVs throughout the airport were off. So weird!
this day is so hard for everyone. it marks a loss of innocense, it marks the deaths of so many...overwhelming.
i cried this morning as i was writing my post...the feelings are still so raw...
I’m glad I peeked in on this blog today for some reason, as I’m not a regular reader. Most of the blogs I read are Alabama political blogs. I seem to be among a bunch of teachers here. I’m touched to see non-Americans expressing their thoughts and cares here ----thanks for that, folks.
When the attack started I was listening to a local (Montgomery, AL) talk radio sports program and the guys on the show told what they were seeing in the studio on their TV. They devoted the rest of the show to describing what they were seeing and not believing. I switched to TV and when I saw the second tower hit I knew we were under attack and that the method of attack was to fly passenger planes into tall buildings.
From that moment it was personally scary because our older daughter was on a business trip to Chicago and we suspected that the meeting she was attending might be in the Sears Tower, a likely target, but apparently not one that day, but we had no way of knowing that for quite some time.
Her life was changed by 9/11. She was making great money at her job, but it required her to travel all over the country leaving her 2 boys at home with their Dad. She decided that money was less important than being alive and at home with her family north of Atlanta, so she quit her job and started her own business (http://www.extremecabinetmakeover.com/).
Since I was in Scotland, the whole thing was surreal. But I remember it like it was yesterday.
I loved your post. I've had to stop writing a yearly tribute because I always cry. But maybe it's not a bad thing to cry, yaknow? Makes the resolve to fight back stronger.
The wounds are still fresh for me as well. Very touching post. I was in speech and debate class and my teacher had the t.v. on and was just looking at it. Finally we all caught on to look at the t.v. and I thought they were showing footage from the '93 attack. When we finally understood what was happening, the fear was tremendous. And when they started talking about it being a terrorist attack, it was unbelievable. My friends and I went to the park, and I just remember looking up into a clear, blue, silent sky. I can't even watch the news either. That fear still plagues me.
Oh thank you for writing this. It made me turn off the 9/11 remembered show I was watching. I'll never forget either....but I don't need to re-watch it.
Adorable picture.
I was at home with my husband getting ready for work. When they began posting jobs at the bottom of the screen for linguists, I knew it was to be my husband's destiny. It took 4 years for him to get hired. He said he was going for a year -- it's been 2 1/2. Don't feel sorry for me tho'. Although it is a sacrifice for the kids and me, he is doing what he feels is a privelege and honor to serve our country. I only wish more Americans felt that way.
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