(This post will remain on top today and will be updated periodically with more posts from across the blogosphere reflecting on 9-11. Please scroll down below this one for newer posts)
I’m watching HBO’s special “In Memoriam” right now, which is a documentary of news footage from 9-11 and interviews with family members of some of the victims, as well as key figures like former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Tears started to fall while watching some of the footage of the rescue workers who worked worked at the site everyday, knowing that they had lost comrades, buddies, brothers, sisters there.
It’s impossible to watch documentaries about 9-11 without recalling your own memories of what you were doing that day. As we approach the 4th anniversary of 9-11, I wanted to share with you my personal 9-11 story. I originally posted this on my blog Sept. 10, 2004.
—
A reflection … and lessons learned …
It would be an understatement to say that one of the events that changed all of our lives in a most major way was 9-11. I was in NYC when 9-11 happened. The first plane struck at 8:46 a.m. and during that time, my friend and I were in Rockefeller Ctr laughing and joking and taking a few more pictures for what we thought was going to be our last day there. We’d no idea what had happened or what was yet to come. A little before 9, we were standing by the Today show studios, trying to get on TV. By 9:25 or so, we were eating breakfast at Roxy’s Delicatessen in Times Square. We’d made lunch plans with a friend for around noontime. Well, while we were sitting there eating breakfast, my cell phone rang once and went immediately into voice mail, which was odd. The little voice mail notification kept going off and it was bugging me. I thought it may be my friend having to cancel lunch plans with us. I went outside of Roxy’s to try to the voice mail. I couldn’t get any of the buttons to work, and was irritated a bit because as I was standing outside, all of these emergency vehicles were roaring by with their sirens going off. I thought to myself “Can I not go anywhere in this d*mn town without it being so loud?”
I didn’t know at the time that those emergency vehicles were headed to the WTC. I couldn’t get the ‘peace’ I desired because those vehicles were headed off to try to save people. I couldn’t hit the buttons on my phone to check my voice mail because the WTC had been hit and as a result just about all forms of phone communication had gone down. Shortly after, the WTC went down, too. I was riddled with guilt for months - I still feel it sometimes - for the petty things I let myself get irritated over. It was not a big deal I couldn’t check my voice mail. It wasn’t a huge deal that breakfast wasn’t so great. What was a big deal was what was going in Lower Manhattan. If only I’d known, I’d never have acted so petty over the little things that morning.
I also felt guilt because at the time me and my friend were sharing a few laughs at Rockefeller Center, or trying to get on the Today show, or walking by FoxNews studio, or eating breakfast, unbeknownst to us thousands of people had been murdered and thousands more injured in a senseless brutal attack on our soil. All I could think about at that time was how those people kissed their kids or spouses goodbye that a.m. not knowing they weren’t going to make it home. Those people did the same kinds of things we all do in the a.m. We chat for a few minutes by the watercooler with our coworkers, we check our email, we grab a cup of coffee, etc etc. While they were doing the most innocent of everyday things, their lives were ripped from them in a sick inhumane way. Thousands of kids lost their moms or dads, spouses lost their s/o, brothers lost sisters and vice versa, etc etc.
In the hectic world of everyday life, sometimes we don’t pause to appreciate the good in our lives: we don’t stop to give a loved one a hug, or a friend a comforting pat on the back, or our pets a little rub between the ears. And we spend too little time giving ourselves a break from the craziness of the world. Please take the time to tell your family and friends how much you appreciate them and show them often - because you never know when it might be your last time seeing them. I am by no means trying to sound fatalistic - in fact, I’m taking kind of a “Carpe Diem!” outlook here. Seize the day. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Take a drive with the top off the car. Let your hair down. Stop and smell the roses. And most importantly, tell the people who mean the most to you how much you care. Life is way too short to not live it and appreciate everything in it.
Please say a prayer for the families of all who were lost/injured on that day, and to the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror, along with those currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
God bless our great country.
(Cross-posted at BlogsForBush)
Sunday Update - More 9-11 Remembrance links:
Michelle Malkin
Captain Ed
Winds of Change
The Political Teen
Brian at Iowa Voice
BlogsForBush
Jim at bRight and Early
Instapundit
Beth at My VRWC
Jay at Stop the ACLU
Cao’s Blog
Patrick Ruffini
Blackfive
Lorie Byrd
Michele Catalano
Across the Atlantic
Ace
California Yankee
James Joyner
Bill Quick
Cox and Forkum
Varifrank
J Rob
Gay Patriot
Neddy Kerfuffles
Rick Moran
Romeocat
Atlas
Castle Argghhh!
Alan L. Nelson
My Pet Jawa
IMAO
Mister Snitch
Rob at Say Anything
The Patriette
Southern Appeal
Jon Schaff at South Dakota Politics
Hugh Hewitt
Sparks From The Anvil
Ann Althouse
Ankle Biting Pundits
CavalierX
Publius Rendezvous
I was in a rather long meeting that morning. About 9:15, one of our people came in late and told us that “the country was under attack,” that a couple of planes had hit the WTC towers. As I look back on it now, it seems incredible to me, but our team leader suggested that we continue on until the break (another 30 minutes or so). His feeling was that “there’s not anything that we can do about it,” so we might as well continue with our business. I think maybe he thought Diane was exaggerating, or that it was just an accident. I couldn’t concentrate on the subject matter, and when we finally broke I rushed to my computer and checked CNN and Fox News and learned what was happening. They sent us all home at that point (I’m a federal employee so there was some security concern). I managed to contact my wife, and she picked the kids up at school and we all came back home. We sat in front of the TV most of the morning together, completely stunned. After a while, we managed to get Claire out of the room…she was only about six years old at the time, and we didn’t want her to be exposed to too much of this.
We still have some of the pictures she drew in the days and weeks following the attack, as she tried to process this terrible event. Pictures of smoking buildings and stick figures with guns. Thinking about it makes me sad, but also makes me very, very angry.
My colleague from work who led the meeting that morning is fairly liberal. He’s a great guy and a good friend, but in retrospect, I’ve come to see his reaction that morning as emblematic of the attitude of the Left…ignore it and maybe it will go away.
It’s never going to go away. When the Iron Curtain fell, I held out some hope that my children could live in peace and safety without the constant threat of annihilation, as I had lived since birth. But there’s always some new madman on the horizon, it seems. The 9/11 hijackers did do us this one favor: they woke us up from our slumber and made us realize we’re not untouchable. My one consolation is that, over the past four years, we’ve done a pretty good job of touching them back.
Comment by Sloan @ 9/10/2005 - 6:16 am
“The 9/11 hijackers did do us this one favor: they woke us up from our slumber and made us realize we’re not untouchable.”
Very much so. I sometimes get people who ask me “just how did America change after 9-11″ and that’s what I tell them: we were a sleeping giant before, but not anymore.
Thanks for sharing your story, Sloan.
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 9/10/2005 - 8:21 am
I, too get irritated by small things that don’t matter in the big picture. Sometimes people behind me in traffic honk when there’s a legitimate reason to be stopped. Each and every day I try to tell my family that I love them. You never know in these perilous times…what may happen. Very nice post. I see some other posts that I’m going to check out…so many great bloggers to visit, so little time.
God Bless America.
Comment by Cao @ 9/11/2005 - 11:03 am
Hi Cao! Thanks for stopping by and posting. Great blog you have there
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 9/11/2005 - 8:09 pm
The events of 9/11 will never be forgotten.
Not by us. Not by those who wished it upon us.
Comment by wordsmith @ 9/11/2005 - 9:00 pm
That afternoon I posted to all on my list that I no longer cared whether others liked us, I didn’t even care if they respected us, but I insist that they fear us. Hurting the US should NEVER be a good policy for a politician.
Comment by Walter E. Wallis @ 9/12/2005 - 8:34 am
My vivid memories are of my son, 6 then asking why? That worried look in his eyes, everyday for months.The pictures he drew in school, flags mostly, still hang in my office and house. I remember seeing all the kids for months after with flags hanging on book bags and on shirts. It was stirring. But what is etched in my mind is my little boy, kneeling beside his bed night after night and asking God to protect the United States Marines. I overheard him on many occasions tell people not to worry, the Marines will protect us. It did change us. Too bad a lot of people have forgotten. I will not let my children forget. I think 9/11 made a lot of our small children grow up faster and come to grips with just how evil this world is. Long before they should have had to face it. Regradless of who you want in the White House, you should always pray that they will not be afraid to make a stand when the fabric of our way of life is threatened
Comment by gary @ 9/12/2005 - 9:08 am
I appreciate you linking with my site, and I enjoyed your tribute on September 11th. It is so hard to believe it has been that long ago, it only feels like yesterday. It was a pleasure, and meaningful to commerate that day, and I thank you for what that meant.
Please feel free to visit anytime, and I look forward to returning, please send me an e-mail or comment if you would/care if I added you to my blogroll.
Comment by Publius Rendezvous @ 9/12/2005 - 8:07 pm
I appreciated your comments as well at your blog … and I don’t mind if you add me to your blogroll
I’ve got some updating to do myself to mine one of these days.
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 9/12/2005 - 8:26 pm