The most surreal drive of my life. That's what I remember.
Posted on 09/10/2007 6:41:30 PM PDT by Milwaukee_Guy
Might be a good time to revisit how we all heard about the the attack on 9/11 and how we reacted to the darkest day in American history.
What emotions were strongest for you on that day?
How did you find out? Did you stay at work? Did you go Home? Who did you call?
Deb, I checked your home page, and I am humbled.
Thank you for the sacrifice you have endured.
I cannot see my keyboard so well—I wish you comfort and grace and God’s protection and provision for you and your lovely children.
Their Dad would be so proud.
The most surreal drive of my life. That's what I remember.
When we rung off, I went downstairs to be basement to watch the TV. When I saw the news, I called the kids down to watch with me. We were watching as the second plane flew into the 2nd building. We were just so shocked, we couldn't stop watching. Needless to say, we were horrified when the first tower fell, then the second tower, then the plane hit the Pentagon. I was beginning to worry, because I have a nephew who was working in the US Capitol at the time, and I knew that there had to be a plane heading there, as well. It it a BIG target and easily identified from the air.
It was a horrifying current events lesson for the kids, but they will remember it always. My sister still prays for the folks on Flight 93, because she believes their actions saved her son's life that day.
I was working at O’Hare for Continental Airlines at the time. We all rushed back to the breakroom to watch the news. At first the reports were of small private plane hitting the towers and we thought a disabled pilot might be the cause. It became very clear upon seeing the type of plane involved that terrorism was involved. I was commuting to ORD from Milwaukee at the time. I don’t think I covered that 90 miles home so fast as I did that day. I am as angry if not more so today as I was in 2001.
Never forget! Never forgive!
I was in the office at the newspaper I worked for at the time; heard a story on the ABC radio news that a “small plane” had crashed into the World Trade Center. I went to Free Republic, of course, and got the real scoop.
Called the newswoman at the local radio station (she and I used to be a broadcast team when I was in broadcasting), and gave her an update from the details on FR. The network hadn’t broken in yet, so she put me on the air and we kept folks updated. When ABC did decide to go wall-to-wall, the station manager opted to keep our local coverage going, saying we were doing a better job than the network!
After about two hours or so the station finally joined the ABC feed; I went home, flipped on the TV, and just sat there mesmerized in disbelief, for hours.
West coast.
Clock radio went off because Mrs. B. had an early appointment.
News radio was going ape. Turned on the TV, and saw the tape replay of a plane hitting a tower.
Said to my wife:
“We better worry about our civil liberties.”
Thanks for this memorial thread.
I had decided to take my long run that morning. As I walked in the house, the phone was ringing. It was my twin sister...she was sitting with my mother in the hospital. As I answered, I noticed the TV was on and the WTC was on fire and had a big hole in it.
Sis tried to tell me what had happened, but all I kept seeing was a plane flying into the building...and wondering “How the heck did they get THAT on camera?!”. It took several minutes for her to make me understand I was seeing a 2nd plane. Of course, then I knew. I called family, prayed, cried, cursed, went to church. I especially prayed for the president as he was still being whisked away all over the country.
A few weeks later Rudy called on America to visit NYC. My best friend and I booked a trip immediately. Couldn’t see Ground Zero but I was really shaken by all the “missing posters”. To this day, that’s the 9/11 image that makes me break down and cry.
Back in those days I still worked 3rd shift. I’d already gone home long enough to change clothes and pick up my dogs. We’d finished our walk through the historic district and loaded back up in the van to go home. The local DJs were airing a call from another listener. At first I thought they were discussing some new blockbuster movie. Planes hitting buildings? Smoke?
Soon as I got home, both towers were standing there burning on live TV. The only person I knew I could call was the 1st shifter I’d said goodbye to at shift turnover.
He’d gotten word and was also watching on the tiny TV he kept there for weekend games. A part of me was still in denial when the first tower fell. It was only when his voice came out in a weak gravel about “all those firemen and EMTs that were rushing in there...” that it all sank in.
With all my attention riveted on the TV and trying to track down Net friends in Pennsylvania and New York, I doubt I slept much before going back into work that night. As I passed through my little town along the way, I smiled through my tears at seeing that the flags usually reserved for patriotic holidays were waving from every pole.
I was skimming posts and happened to read your post. I just realized that neither of my kids schools are remembering this day in any way. No red/white/blue, nothing. The two youngest wear uniforms and this would usually be a “special no uniform day” - I’ll be making a call tomorrow to that Principal. The other two are in public high school so I’ll just tell them to wear their American Flag T-shirts.
Congratulations on your little one! May you and hubby always be aware of God’s will and blessings! Thanks for sharing...
I remember listening to Mancow who is out of Chicago-he was going nuts and evacuating the building he was broadcasting from
I was at a meeting right after that and saw the Towers fall on TV
when I went back to work I was in a fit of rage-somebody’s gonna pay
I was on my way to work driving down the interstate at about 6 a.m. Pacific time when the first reports were that a small plane had hit one of the towers. Didn’t think much of it other than the loss of life and injuries that would be the result of a plane crash. Figured that it would be in the news cycle for a few days. Once the second plane hit it was obvious what was going on.
One of my co-workers, a devout Muslim and a sworn anti-Wahhabist from Paskistan (he lost a member of his family to terrorists just a few years prior to 9/11) said that the “Fit has hit the Shan” and although he thought Bush “stole” the election he was happy it was G.W. in the WH at the time rather than Sore-Loserman.
Woke up to see it in progress. Suspected Islamofascists for the first hit; knew it on the second hit. Knew immediately that Clinton’s failure to deal with them let this happen. I wrote this.
MIDI - END OF THE INNOCENCE - http://d21c.com/dodgerdawg/A-F.html
For several years they sang his song…he was a hero to their cause
In denial many lived…he placed himself up above the laws
He knew all of the right things to say…down through…hell and then back believers would go
In eight long years he’s done to us…more damage than you know
For his neglect we would finally pay the price…the count’s three thousand dead
We know just where to place the blame…it is on Bill Clinton’s head
When the Cole was hit and brave men died…there is no doubt that he hadn’t cried
He looked at his polls and sighed
Now this is the end…this is the end…of his legacy
At OKC he saw his chance…he needed to divide us all
He would create the vast right wing…and his mind-numbed fools would pick up the ball
So we’d fight among ourselves…and the…grand scheme had worked, he got his way
With our attention diverted he…would gut the CIA
For his neglect we would pay the price…the count’s three thousand dead
We know just where to place the blame…it is on Bill Clinton’s head
When the Cole was hit and brave men died…there is no doubt that he hadn’t cried
He looked at his polls and sighed
Now this is the end…this is the end…of his legacy
We endured a psychopath…who saw himself as the Rockstar Prez
We had sent the warnings out…watch what this man does, not what he says
For neglect we paid the price…when those great buildings fell with many dead
And we know just where to place the blame…it’s on Bill Clinton’s head
When the Cole was hit and brave men died…there is no doubt that he hadn’t cried
He looked at his polls and sighed
Now this is the end…this is the end…of his legacy
“Saw Mark Haines on CNBC narrate video associated with the first plane hit...”
Mark Haines. If anyone deserved a Pulitzer or Emmy for his coverage of that terrible day, it was the voice-of-reason, *Conservative*, and all-around standup guy Mark Haines. Despite being in Manhattan, and possibly in danger, he held it together and was a beacon of calm reassurance all through America’s most uncertain hours. My Hero.
I woke up, still relishing the Bronco’s Monday Night win over the NY Giants the night before. Ed McCaffery had gotten his leg broken, but it was a good win. I was feeling good. It was my oldest granddaughters 12th birthday anniversary, and we had a nice party planned for her that afternoon after school.
Then, my mother-in-law called, hysterical. “We’re being attacked! We’re being attacked!” she kept screaming over the phone. “Turn on the TV!” I did.
The rest of the day was...crap. I was infuriated beyond anything I’d ever felt before.
That reminds me. Tomorrow my granddaughter will be 18.
I’ll go post the link where people can download the MP3. I’ll put that on a separate post.
That evening, we went out to do some shopping before President Bush's address from the White House. As we were walking across the Wal-Mart parking lot, my dad and I noticed a contrail high overhead. We stopped and studied it for a few minutes and quickly spotted a couple of smaller aircraft flanking the larger one. I have often wondered if that was Air Force One transporting President Bush from Omaha to Washington DC.
I haven’t heard Mancow in years! (I used to live down there.)
Mancow must have been foaming at the mouth. He’s not too stable on a normal day.
I can’t imagine him on 9/11!
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