You want an experience ? Be glad you didn't have mine, or worse still, that of a former co-worker. . .
I was working in Arlington, Virginia on 9/11. We were all gathered around the TV set in the Briefing Room, shocked at what was going on in DC. Then we heard a jet fly by the building, far lower and faster than normal, and 10-15 seconds later the building shook. . .and a few seconds after that . . we heard an explosion.
My boss looked at me (I was the only Veteran in the company) and asked me what I thought it was. . .
I told him it was either the Pentagon or, God Forbid, the White House. About 30 seconds later, the local radio station announced that the Pentagon had been hit.
That, however, was nothing, compared to a former co-worker of mine: she was looking out the window of her office, and SAW the plane hit the Pentagon.
Needless to say, neither of us will be forgetting 9/11 anytime soon. . .
I am grateful that I only watched in horror from afar. I'm sure it was just awful for you and your friend. I can't imagine being right there. Like I said, my perspective of the world and of life has changed since then. Evil became apparent in a new way.