I know this is trivial compared to the broad scope of the 9-11 tragedy, but what creeped me out the worst came in the days that followed. There were no aircraft overhead. Not a one.
All my life I have heard aircraft, from commercial airliners to tiny Cessna two-seaters. Even while camping in the wilderness, on a ship at sea or in the middle of the desert at night, there was always the sound of an aircraft passing by. I knew I was never completely alone.
Then the skies went silent, and the silence was terrible.
Minor stuff, I know, but I remember it vividly.
The day they allowed aircraft back in the skies, a Cessna flew over very low, too low, and circled the soccer field where my child was practicing. It was all I could do not to scream out in fright.
Do you remember ?
The day when Americans died.
Do you remember ?
The day when only birds and Eagles flew.
Do you remember ?
When the towers fell.
When innocent travelers died.
Do you remember,"Let's Roll!"?
When Americans fought back!
The guilty have suffered, but not enough,
to stop their terror ways.
Remember. Never forget.
Until our work is done!
Now there's Beslan and London too.
We are not alone in this.
Now there are others,
who can never forget.
The most innocent among us
who paid a terrible price.
When children,CHILDREN died!
As hostages to an deadly cult.
NEVER FORGET!!
Tet68 tm.
The first clue I had was very subtle. School kids were abruptly being rounded up from the school yard, at an off time. It wasn't at the half hour or on the hour. I thought, that's funny. And there were multiple adults ushering them in, who didn't seem to do this in a routine way. Seemed a bit odd to see so many adults. I was waiting in the car. My mom had to go to some government building.
When I first heard 9-11 on the radio, sitting in the car, I thought it was some kind of 'War of the Worlds' prank. Skeptically, I checked other channels before concluding it was the real thing. I knew we were going to get hit, and I was actually grateful that our wakeup call was not as hideous as it could have been.
But jets in buildings? That was not one I never considered. It was like poking a bear with a sharp stick. Not too bright, in my opinion.
My mom came out of the building. She first found out when a school teacher was cussing like a sailor.
Heading home, I wondered if we still had internet access. Didn't take anything for granted at the moment.
You wrote:
"There were no aircraft overhead. Not a one."
Prior to 9-11, I felt minor pangs-- mind you, but petty little resentment about seeing comtrails in the sky all the time [the old tree hugger in me]. Then, there weren't any-- not a single one. I would sometimes even wonder if all private air travel would be completely destroyed. It was a weird, creepy feeling. Like you say, a minor point. But you are bringing up history. My prior resentment of comtrails, whenever I remember it, I feel ashamed now. It was petty. And that is history-- the key word.
History is what Jim Robinson's vision has been regarding this forum from Day One: he wanted these posts of our to not be mere, trivial chat, but timeless moments of history.
Few days are better to ponder history than on an anniversary date.
FRegards....