Stephen — Thanks for so beautifully sharing your personal 9/11 story. One of the best I’ve ever read. There’s so much insight here, and so much to be gained from your lived experience of that disastrous day.
Also, I’ve been to NYC many times over many years, and I have to say, I never encountered rudeness from anyone there that could compare with the behavior I routinely observe in the checkout lane at the Knoxville, TN Walmart. (Don’t judge! I get my Rx filled there, because it costs a fraction of what other pharmacies charge)
I was listening to a local Jazz station when the first report came. Immediately told my husband to put on CNN because it was good in those days. They showed the planes flying into the buildings and at one point I said, “Those buildings are coming down”. I too lived in NYC prior to my move to SF and called friends afterwards. One friend said it seemed like everyone in NYC knew someone who died. The move to NYC also gave me an incredible sense of freedom for the first time in my life and I love that city. It’s true that New Yorkers are pretty good people.
The rest of the day was shite at my job of working at a business travel agency. People were looking for their loved ones combined with a frantic effort to get them back home.
I was a flight attendant prior at United Airlines and wondered if I lost friends there. The tragedy touched so many.
I was at work, and the first I heard was that the Pentagon was on fire. That news was quickly followed by learning that airplanes had crashed into the Twin Towers - it was a little after 9AM. Co-workers with friends and family in NYC and DC were frantic to learn if they were safe, and the rest of us horror-struck with seeing the carnage, and wondering who had done it and why, and which American cities were next.
Sadly, it appears that OBL achieved his goal of destroying American democracy, if not the country outright. He had help though, as Seth put it, "... that togetherness was squandered into jingoism."
This is so deep and a vivid reminder of a horrific day. I was at the other end of the state just starting grad school. It became a day of surreal horror as the unthinkable unfolded for us.
And I will always remember how that togetherness was squandered into jingoism.
Stephen — Thanks for so beautifully sharing your personal 9/11 story. One of the best I’ve ever read. There’s so much insight here, and so much to be gained from your lived experience of that disastrous day.
Also, I’ve been to NYC many times over many years, and I have to say, I never encountered rudeness from anyone there that could compare with the behavior I routinely observe in the checkout lane at the Knoxville, TN Walmart. (Don’t judge! I get my Rx filled there, because it costs a fraction of what other pharmacies charge)
I was listening to a local Jazz station when the first report came. Immediately told my husband to put on CNN because it was good in those days. They showed the planes flying into the buildings and at one point I said, “Those buildings are coming down”. I too lived in NYC prior to my move to SF and called friends afterwards. One friend said it seemed like everyone in NYC knew someone who died. The move to NYC also gave me an incredible sense of freedom for the first time in my life and I love that city. It’s true that New Yorkers are pretty good people.
The rest of the day was shite at my job of working at a business travel agency. People were looking for their loved ones combined with a frantic effort to get them back home.
I was a flight attendant prior at United Airlines and wondered if I lost friends there. The tragedy touched so many.
I was 6, so all I recall was seeing adults crying - which is SUPER upsetting for a kid - and being sent home from school early.
I was at work, and the first I heard was that the Pentagon was on fire. That news was quickly followed by learning that airplanes had crashed into the Twin Towers - it was a little after 9AM. Co-workers with friends and family in NYC and DC were frantic to learn if they were safe, and the rest of us horror-struck with seeing the carnage, and wondering who had done it and why, and which American cities were next.
Sadly, it appears that OBL achieved his goal of destroying American democracy, if not the country outright. He had help though, as Seth put it, "... that togetherness was squandered into jingoism."
This is so deep and a vivid reminder of a horrific day. I was at the other end of the state just starting grad school. It became a day of surreal horror as the unthinkable unfolded for us.
And I will always remember how that togetherness was squandered into jingoism.