SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

9/11 ~ Two numbers that when used together will always bring us back to that infamous day in 2001.

We honor those who lost loved ones, those who helped when they were not asked to do so, those who have given their lives fighting in a war that continues to rage on ...

On 9/11, the world was small. We were all brought together as we battled our way out of the rubble and tried to make sense of a senseless act. No matter your views on world politics, belief in conspiracy theories, race, age or religion you were affected by the events of 9/11 in some way.

Please use this space as you will... Share your thoughts on the past 10 years. Where were you on 9/11? Did you lose a loved one? Where you in New York, Arlington, VA or Pennsylvania? Have you written a poem or story about the attack? Did you read books or watch movies/TV shows to help better understand what went wrong?

There are websites, such as I will , where you can "describe what you will do this year, a good deed, charitable activity, or other plans, to honor the 9/11 victims, survivors and those that rose in service in response to the attacks."

The only thing I ask is that everyone respect each other. Hateful posts (not that any are expected) will be deleted.

Yep, quite by chance I, hubby & brother were watching the late night news (in Aus) when they suddenly crossed live to NY.

It was just horrific, like watching a train wreck, as the saying goes. I'll never forget it. I stayed up watching until way into the early hours of the morning. I'm pretty sure I was in shock.

I've watched lots of shows, newscasts, interviews and memorials since then and the sadness never goes away. We lost quite a few Aussies in the tower (we're like ants, we go everywhere) and we've had NY firefighters etc come out here sponsored by our guys and it always makes the news.

Heroes are never out of fashion.

I was home, on the computer (shocker), 1st born was 19 months old and still sleeping. I'm CST, so I'm an hour before NY, so it was 7:46am for me. We still had dial-up, so I had this little program on my computer that would take a message if someone called me, and play it back. So my girlfriend called and said, "What? Are we under attack? Check out the news." She was joking about the "under attack" part, at least at that point, since it was just the one plane, and people were still thinking it was an accident at that point.

So I went and turned on the news, and was watching the live footage at 8:02am when the second plane hit. I just remember being completely freaking shocked. I sat in front of that TV for the entire day, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. Still brings tears to my eyes just thinking of all those poor people, especially the ones trapped above the plane entry sites, the people who were jumping out of windows to get away from the smoke. So pitifully sad.

I was at my tiny little podunk library the other day and they have a big piece of twisted steel from the World Trade Center. I almost lost it in the library. I had left the kids in the car because I was just picking up a book on hold, but I went back out and got them so they could see it. Crazy.

I wandered into the living room, and thought spouse had fallen asleep watching some movie...then realized it was live! I stayed up most of the night (I'm in Japan, BTW), and kept trying to get hold of family (west coast, but brother-in-law traveled back east, including NY, on business). Telephone lines were clogged, but when I finally got hold of sis, she told me about the fighter jets patrolling and just utter shock of everyone.


I managed to get my kids to elementary school, but stayed glued to the TV until I had to go to parents' visitation day. It was so weird...I was in shock about what had happened back home, and everyone around me was exchanging banal pleasantries and catching up on kids' events.

Later, news about the many Japanese who worked in the towers was played, and we've seen memorial replays and remembrances every year since (for all victims, regardless of nationality). Whether in a big way, or small way, it is a horrible tragedy that has made many changes. It is unforgettable, and my sincerest wish is that such things would never happen again. Unfortunately, that is unlikely.

Will be spending at least a moment of silence to remember them on the 11th...

Yeah, we get the full remembrance services with all the names too. I always try and watch it, my small observance seems so little.

I was at work at a call center, and someone had an illicit mini-tv on her desk. And she suddenly said "A plane flew into the World Trade Center." It didn't make any sense - what a weird accident, how awful. Before long it was clear what was going on... I remember going over and seeing footage of the damage to the Pentagon. I remember a friend standing up across the room telling us about the panic he was finding on the internet: planes were being grounded; 200 planes were missing; no, they were accounted for; no, they weren't... We kept waiting for the next blow.

I remember the shock, and the terror - I'm in Connecticut, so NYC is our close neighbor and beloved to me, and I have several friends in New York. I remember trying to think where exactly my friend Jen lived, and not being able to get through to her, and worrying about her roommate who worked in the financial district. They had live news projected on the big screen in the auditorium, and a few of us went down there on our lunch. The phones were quiet, partly because lines were down, partly because suddenly the problems people would normally have been calling us with seemed unimportant.

I remember sitting in my room listening to Peter Jennings on the radio late into the night, until I couldn't handle any more and had to shut it off.

A friend and I always went to the Renaissance Faire in New York on its last weekend - which, that year, was the weekend following 9/11. They debated closing, but in the end the actors banded together and all but begged people to come - we all needed to be with each other, and we went on the Sunday, the last day. I've never seen anything like it. A faire which is usually pretty thoroughly 16th century suddenly had American flags flying everywhere. Every single actor and booth worker was wearing at least a ribbon or a pin of red and white and blue. A great many of us were wearing white ribbons, for remembrance and mourning. I had barely met my friend's roommate (who was also an actor at the Faire), but I made a point of seeking him out and giving him a hug - and found out from him that while he hadn't been anywhere near, one of the pillars of the faire had been in the train station underneath the World Trade Center when it happened - and got out, thank God. Later, at their last performance of the season, a trio of singers auctioned off a prop that they'd used all summer (proceeds going toward a 9/11 fund) - and when the girl who won it strode up to claim it ... again, I've never seen anything like it. She was brittle, and a little manic, and seemed dead set on milking every second for everything she could get out of it - because she worked in one of the towers, and was late for work that day. And she was alive, and by God she meant to live. She's the face of 9/11 for me, and an object lesson.

I'd give a lot to be going to Faire next Sunday. I'm just glad it is a Sunday - I'm not going to be worth much all day. I hadn't even thought about what I'll do for it; I have at least one blog post planned, and expect to curl up in a ball and cry for a while. But ... I should package up some books and send them off to the troops - and I believe some local fire stations sent men to NYC. I'd like to make cookies, maybe ...

@ Sandra: Mine too...but it seems so important to remember.

One of my acquaintances here is from Kenya...I remember her anger at how the terrorist attack in Kenya was so small...and 9/11 was so big. No matter where it happens, these things are so awful. Something I also try to remember.

Hubby & I were stationed on Oahu, HI. We rec'd a wake up call from hub's sister telling us to turn on the news. We saw the 2nd plane hit the WTC. Hubby was called into work about 20 minutes later. My office closed for the day b/c we were located in a high-rise building which was owned by Japanese businessmen who, following the Sarin gas attack in Japan 1995 and the mainland's attack, were being cautious. I stayed glued to the TV or radio all day. Most of our family lives in Virginia, so the attack on the Pentagon had us worried about them. The devastation in NYC was beyond unimaginable.

When the flights were grounded, it was the first time we actually felt like we were trapped living on a small island. The island's supplies were diminishing quickly because shipments stopped coming in. TP and other essentials were flyin' off the shelves. TONS of people were "trapped" on the island, so the hotels and motels were packed. Everyone pulled together, just like everywhere else in the world. But, there was one newspaper reporter, a b*tch from Washington state who wrote an article saying, "The spirit that prevailed in Waikiki was not a patriotic one," Zacharias wrote. "Corner chatter continued to focus on surfing and snorkeling conditions and tan lines." Oh boy were we all fuming. The paper eventually "apologized". We are on an island and couldn't run to the nearby shop for a flag, but the state showed their Patriotism just like all other states and countries around the world. Suck it, Karen Zacharias! There was also controversy over the 'Iolani Palace flying the American flag.

But, the state spread aloha, something they do best. When we lived in Hawaii, they held a Remembrance Ceremony on the base each year. I always attended. I'm not sure what, if anything, they do here on Okinawa, but I will definitely attend if they have something similar.

I had just gotten up to get ready for work (on the West coast), turned on the radio, and heard a plane had gone into one of the towers.

I turned the TV on in the front room, which woke the rest of the family, and all of us watched the coverage in shock. I will never forget when the towers collapsed. It still "hurts" when I see that particular coverage.

I remember the drive to downtown (Portland). It was strange - everyone seemed to be in shock and everyone was courteous. And, it was very quiet - no horns, it almost seemed like no sound at all.

We had an office meeting and they closed the office as we were all too upset and a number of people were crying. Some were feeling strange working in a building that was off by itself, and 43 stories tall. I went home and watched the coverage until late in the night.

It's the same for me Karen. It's still painful to see the coverage of the day.

I think most people feel the same way.

No doubt.

Watching the CNN coverage of the memorial...while watching President Obama and former President Bush greet people as they visit the memorial.

They're also mentioning the current possible threat...

My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends that lost loved ones.

I remember the days after 9/11. I live pretty close to an airport. There's always the sound of a plane in the sky. The skies were silent.

I was surprised at the lack of news coverage offered on AFN. What little there was hubby didn't want to watch. So, I didn't see the Pres bits. But, kept all those who's lives were changed that day (and since) in my thoughts.

AH wrote: "I remember the days after 9/11. I live pretty close to an airport. There's always the sound of a plane in the sky. The skies were silent."

I thought about that yesterday, AH. I was driving and saw a couple planes in the sky, and remembered when there were none, and how scary that felt. For some reason, it made things feel too big or something. We're just so used to a ton of them up there that we don't even notice them. Until they're not there.

I was watching a show about 9/11 last night with my kids (11 & almost 9). It was the one with footage that regular people filmed in NY on 9/11. I was all prepared to fast forward for the jumpers, I just felt that was too much for them, but they did ask me why I was fast forwarding and I told them that it was sooooo hot from the horrible fire from all that jet fuel, and there was so much smoke, that poor people were jumping out of that huge building to get away from it. And that it was horribly sad to watch, and I didn't think they should see it. But then I find myself saying as the towers are collapsing, "Think of all the people trapped in there, trying to rush down the stairs with thousands of other people, and all the smoke..." I can't help myself. My daughter asked me why they keep showing it, and I told her that it's important for us to always remember. That I hope they always show it again on the anniversary, because people lessen things in their heads as time goes on, and people should always remember.

One of the people's videos was not of the World Trade Center, but of people's reactions in Times Square, as they were watching it unfold on the big screens there. And after people realized it was terrorists, the guy was getting people's angry reactions on film. One guy said something like, "I think we should just go over there and bomb all the Middle Eastern countries and be done with it. They should pay." And my daughter said, "That's stupid. Why would you kill a bunch of innocent people for something a few bad people did?" Damn straight, Gracie. Good girl. Sometimes my kids remind me that for all my shortcomings, I'm doing a pretty good job on the big stuff. :)

:)

I feel very lucky. I'd like to share my story.

My brother lives in NY and at the time he worked for a company that had part of their company's offices in one of the towers. The week before 9/11 he had made a last minute flight to go visit our other brother for the weekend in L.A.

He was flying back into NY that morning but landed well before the attacks. Although his office was not in the towers, he was supposed to be at a meeting at his companies offices located in the towers. He and my other brother had been out late, so he went home to his apartment on the upper west side to nap before work.

When he got up, he called his secretary to tell her that he was going to be late. He also turned on the t.v. He saw the news. While he watched live, the second plane hit. He remembers telling her to turn on a t.v. He said he was in such a state of shock he actually continued to get ready for work. He left his apartment and started to head to his main office (his company also had offices in another building near Times Square which is were his main office was).

He got on the subway and got out near Times Square and as he looked up he saw only one tower standing. As he watched, the second tower fell.

It hasn't been lost on me that not only was my brother flying on 9/11, but that he should have been in the building at the time. He would have been extremely high up, above the impact site. None of the employees from his company who were there that day survived.

I knew he was flying that day, and before they knew which planes, I was terrified. It was my first year in the dorms in college. I was away from home, unfamiliar with my surroundings and away from all of my loved ones. I'll never forget. And I'll be grateful every day that I have my brother. So many people lost their brothers, sisters, husbands, wives and children. I'm so lucky I still have mine.

Lovely story (((Ashley)))

Wow Ashley. Lucky is right. I can't imagine living through that day with a loved one in the air or working in the towers. You hear stories about people who were late for work or home sick and you wonder what must go through their heads, that everyone they worked with is dead. *shudder*

Laura, whenever I think about that day, I wonder how we would discuss it with our kids (if we had any). What is too much to share? I think they (kids) are aware of more than we realize and, like yours, often surprise us with their deep and thoughtful remarks.

Ashley, what a blessing. Like Laura said, stories like his still give me chills thinking about how close so many others came to losing their lives that day. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

I mentioned on 9/11 that I was surprised by the lack of news coverage on AFN. But, I forgot that it wasn't yet 9/11 in the US at that time. AFN aired some of the news reports from the day yesterday. I was able to to see some of the ceremonies at each location.

One of the things that touched me, I'm not sure what show or news report it was a part of, but it showed children of all ages singing Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind" for firefighters @ NYC fire stations. *tear*

[Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys]