I don't think you realize how fast time goes by until you think back on something as monumental as 9/11 and can't believe it happened 15 years ago. Everything about the world as we know it changed that day and it's nearly impossible to remember life before.
I don't have a compelling 9/11 story. For that I would recommend that you visit my friend Stunning Keisha's blog. Her Pop's experience that day was chilling. For me, it was just an ordinary day, but it was a beautiful day, the sky just as clear and blue in Vermont as it was in lower Manhattan. I went into work for 9, turned on my computer, checked out the news as I always do, and read reports of the first tower being hit. I immediately picked up the phone and called my mom to tell her to turn on the news. Then my boss called out from his office that the second tower had been hit. My co-workers and I all went into his office because his was the only computer able to stream live video and everyone immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Somehow we managed to get back to work, but as the Pentagon, Shanksville, and the collapses happened we all gathered together again.
At lunchtime I went to the grocery store and a television was even set up in there. Everyone was so quiet, just going through the motions. I went home, turned on the news, and didn't turn it off for days. I became a news junkie, watching as we lost our innocence and became a nation at war. One of my favorite quotes during that time (and I have it written down somewhere, I just can't find it) was by Shepard Smith on the FOX Report on September 10, 2002. Referring to one year before, the quote ended with, "and the nation enjoyed a final night of peace."
Every year during the week of my birthday the television airwaves are flooded with memorial specials, and I watch them all. I don't ever want to forget the horror of that day and how our lives changed because of it. Time marches on and we can't live in the past, but allowing ourselves to forget the magnitude of what happened can never be an option.
What's your 9/11 story?
We're entering our 9/11 graphic in the Sunday Selfies blog hop hosted by The Cat on My Head.
33 comments:
It doesn't even seem possible that 15 years have passed since that day of tragedy that went on for days and days afterwards. Mom and Dad had the Today show on when the first plane hit and watched the entire event play out right before their eyes. To this day, it is hard to comprehend. That this day was just the beginning of so much terrorism throughout the U.S.and the world saddens us terribly. Mudpie has done a purrfect job of reminding us today to Never Forget. Thanks for hopping with us. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Mudpie ... you are ALWAYS exquisitely beautiful ... but your graphic is a touching tribute to all that really matters.
Perfect tribute a for a sad day in history,xx Speedy
Cathy Keisha's humans were right there - I can only imagine what they were going through, even though my human and I have read her male human's account many times.
What a beautiful tribute, Mudpie. And a beautiful, poignant post, Melissa. It is indeed so important that we never forget what happened that day, even as horrific as it was. It changed us as a nation forever.
I was in 7th grade. I was in English class that morning, when the principal came over the PA system and told the entire school the news just before 9 am. That was only the beginning. We gathered together after that, the entire school, to ponder and pray over the events that were happening in New York and the surrounding area. And I, too, was glued to the news after that. It was the kind of thing that, no matter how much you wanted to wish it wasn't happening, you simply couldn't do that.
Thank you, Mudpie and Melissa, for such a beautiful piece to honor such a sad day in history.
My momma wuz at swim practice when it happened. She found out when her mom came to pick her up and then she went back in and told everyone.
A fine tribute, and one that is mirrored and touches the hearts of so many around the world on this anniversary day... purrs ERin
Thank you for such a beautiful tribute to honor this dark day in history.
A beautiful tribute, Melissa.
What a nice tribute, Mudpie.
The head peep was laid off from her job in NYC in April 2001. Her old office was 4 blocks from WTC, on Maiden Lane. She was in her second week in her new job in Florida when September 11 happened. She remembers one of her new coworkers asking, "Didn't you work in New York City before? You should call your friends." All of her friends who still worked there were ultimately accounted for and safe, but it was a very long day trying to get news from them.
What a beautiful tribute. Even though I remember that day as being bright and sunny, it was one of the darkest days in our country's history. We will never forget. ~Island Cat Mom
I was driving to work and I heard the whole thing on my car radio. Disbelief at first, then I had to pull over. When I got to work, NO ONE knew yet, as it had just been minutes. I remember I had to tell everyone in my office. We all went home to be with loved ones almost immediately..thank u for the tribute dear Mudpie & Melissa
Very nice tribute to 9/11.
On September 10th, 2001, I got a call that a small Yorkie had been abandoned in a carrier at a local pet store. They asked me to foster him for a few days. We were an all kitty household (4) that time, but I agreed. They brought him to my house and he was terrified. The next morning I was sitting with him when I heard the news and at that moment, knew he would stay with me forever because I couldn't send this scared little dog out into the world after what had happened. I named that little dog, Pip, and he is the one I started my blog with. He passed away on October 19, 2013.
Thanks for sharing your memories of 9/11 and giving me a shout out. I think writing that helped Pop start to heal. Unfortunately our country will never be us unified as we were on that day.
Beautiful tribute.
It was afternoon here in London and I was at home. Around 2pm I happened to turn on the TV (I don't normally watch TV in the day but something made me turn it on) and that's when I saw it all unfolding. At first I thought how awful it was that a plane had crashed into the towers as I thought it was an accident. But then I saw the second and the realization hit me that this was no accident. I remember picking up the phone to call my mum to switch on the TV and we both couldn't believe what was happening.
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
We had just gone to a wedding in Connecticut and were driving into NYC when it happened. We drove to the airport, but saw the chaos and decided to keep our rental car. We eventually found a place to stay on eastern long island, took the ferry back to Connecticut the next morning, and got ready for our drive back to California. We rarely listened to the radio on our drive back as the horror was too much.
We had just gone to a wedding in Connecticut and were driving into NYC when it happened. We drove to the airport, but saw the chaos and decided to keep our rental car. We eventually found a place to stay on eastern long island, took the ferry back to Connecticut the next morning, and got ready for our drive back to California. We rarely listened to the radio on our drive back as the horror was too much.
Thank you for sharing your memories... My husband called from work to tell me to turn on the television. I was in shock. My life turned updside down from that day forward. -Katie
This is a lovely tribute to mark the anniversary of that terrible day.
Very nice tribute. We will always remember 9/11.
The Florida Furkids
We won't ever forget, Mudpie. Granny was at home and watched tv during daytime and she was in shock when she saw what had happened and then she saw the second plane...it was terrible. She couldn't believe this horrible act and started to purray too. She can't believe either that it has been 15 years ago. The world changed that day for certain! Soft Pawkisses :) <3
We remember.....Cathy Keisha's post is one we always read over and over....this was quite special as well. catchatwithcarenandcody
Mee-you Mudpie yur Selfie graffick iss purrfect fur thee day!! may BuudhaKat bless you all thee dayss of yur Life....
An thee Horsey video had LadyMum inn teerss...shee LUVSS them horseyss so-o much!!
***paw kissesss*** Siddhartha Henry xxxxx an ((hugsss)) LadyMum
Great Selfie. CK's Pop's post always gives me chills. I am probably one of the few people on this planet who has no recollections of 9-11. A few days previous I was in car accident and got a severe concussion. Ad a matter of fact, I have very few memories of that year.
Kisses
Nellie and her Mommy
Wonderful selfie and lovely tribute.
have a super Sunday...
Noodle and crew
What a lovely tribute. Meow for now... Kristian
I heard about it on NPR, when I was getting ready for work. We west coasters were just getting up when it all went down, and I remember that our announcer thought it was a "terrible accident" until the second plane hit. You could hear it, in his voice, when he realized this was no accident. I'll never--ever--forget that.
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie
A friend of mine was visiting from LA, and we were at the WTC the day before. We were supposed to be there on 9/11, but switched our plans. #neverforget
It was a day that changed the world forever!
It was a day that changed the world forever!
What a beautiful picture, and thank you for sharing your story. I remember being woken up by my college roommate (I'm on the West Coast) - classes were cancelled and everyone was pretty much glued to the news coverage. We will always remember.
It was a sad time for the USA wasn't it? I could not bear to watch anything on TV at all it was too terrible.
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