My 9/11 experience and why I'm worried about the new threats

[meggiebeth]

It's just so sad. All those innocent people that had no escape, and that were forced to suffer. It must have been terrifying to anyone living in NYC at the time. I get scared going on the tube (subway) in London because of what could, and has happened.

 

[pixiefairy]

Thank you Aisling and all who shared their stories...and

I live in the suburbs of Chicago. I had just left my 6 year old on the bus heading to school, and was bringing my nearly 4 month old ds into the house. At the bus stop, another mom said a plane had hit the WTC, and I remember thinking that it must have been a small plane and when I said as much, she was very adamant that no, it was an airliner. I walked in, and my tv was still on and I stood behind the couch and just watched...and saw the second plane hit. I called dh at work - we were in shock. The schools stayed open, and I remember walking from the living room, to the kitchen and back again, pausing to look out the windows and staring up at that blue, blue sky. I was hold my baby ds and felt so helpless and so sad. My dh's company grounded all air travel for 2 months afterwards. I remember lighting a candle and putting it on my front stoop, looking for ribbons to tie on my trees, trying to find an American flag to display. I remember the silence from the lack of airplanes. It was even quieter by my mom's...she lives only a few miles from O'Hare airport and the loud planes were a part of daily life there.

What we found very hard today is trying to explain this to our younger kids. DS 10 is that nearly 4 month old baby, and our younger 3 were not born yet. My dh came downstairs with the kids early and came back upstairs to tell me our 10 and 7 year olds were watching the History channel and watching the shows on 9-11. Our dd 7 kept asking "why?" and dh was struggling to find the words.

 

[marie1203]

I can not believe it has been 10 years. to all of the disers that were there that horrible day. My mom was supposed to be in the WTC that day but thankfully the date was moved. My mom was a consultant that worked for a company from Europe their offices in the US were in the WTC (North tower floors 52 and 84). That day I turn on the TV and regular programing was interrupted. I went to told my mom what was happening and she thought I was joking!!! When she watch it for herself she could not believe it. We watch as the 2 plane crashed and a few minutes after that the phone started ringing is was DM co-worker (head of human resources). She was crying and sobbing so hard it was hard to understand what was she saying. Finally she explain that she was out never made it to the office just the outside of the building. She was desperate because she could not reach any one else. We were in Miami so my mom asked if she wanted to give her numbers to call family member and let them know she was ok but it turn out she did not have any family only a boyfriend that was also in NYC and the call never went trough (He also worked in the towers and thankfully he was ok). That day she drove out of NYC and she never went back not even to pick her things up. Everyone in the office was able to get out or never made up to the office. It was days before they knew everyone was ok.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Aisling,
First many hugs to you, I can't even imagine what it was like over there on that day and what you are feeling. I live in Jersey, at that time about 25 mins from the city and that day was just so chaotic, so many of my friends and teachers were leaving the school crying b/c they had family/friends who worked in the WTC and didn't know where they were. I was worried about my grandfather who was retired but worked over at the piers whenever they needed a hand (usually on Tuesdays) as something to do to pass the time, I kept praying he wasn't there that day as I sat in my classes, thankfully he was home. We weren't allowed to watch TV in our classes that day and I didn't know until I got home @ 3 that both towers were gone. I lived close to Newark airport and planes would fly over my house every 20 seconds, I could lay in my pool in the summer and see the planes dropping their wheels getting ready to land. That night I remember laying in bed with the eerie silence as all air traffic had stopped.
To you, your friends and family I hope you find peace and comfort soon I am so sorry about your friend Father Judge, I remember hearing so many stories about him, truly an amazing man.