That Fateful Day

[Daemona]

I am curious of what everyone remembers about this day in 2001. Good memories or bad ones or a mix of them? How many can say that they remember this was the day they should have died?

A few know my story and I have been asked several times to relate it. So I will start it with a little back history.

My father was born on September seventh and my daughter on September nineth, the year is not important but for me this month is a mix of good and bad. On September fifth I received a panicked call from my mother as my father was being taken into the hospital. My family was gathered up and we started the 250 mile trip then and there. On the way up my sister called on the cell phone and told us he had passed peacefully in the hospital. He had been on dialysis for several years and never once complained and enjoyed his retired life even though he could do little more than sit at home, watch television and talk to his wife unless we could make the trip to visit. For his birthday we were in the funeral home as my mother insisted spending as much time as she could at his coffin. He was buried on my daughter’s birthday a short time later. My sister took my mother out on that fateful Monday to take care of the legalities of transferring things into her name alone with my daughter and son along for the ride and support. We were cleaning the house for my mother and the phone rang. It was my daughter and she asked if we knew or saw? That was when the first plane struck the tower. I remember turning on the television and watching just as the second plane made impact. It was surreal to say the least, and at first I though it was special effects or at least hoped so. It was not as everyone knows and it devastated everyone. That fateful day I was supposed to be on the forty-fifth floor of the south tower in an interview for a new job. I view it personally that my father’s last act on earth was the one that saved my life.

In closing my mother passed eleven month to the day and nearly the hour she lost her lifes mate. Today leaves me as an emotional mess, even after seven years.

[makelovelikewar]

I remember this day too. I was working at the University of Minnesota's Medical School. My husband called to say a plane hit one of the Towers; they had the TV on where he worked and everyone was glued to the news. We didn't have that access so I told the rest of my group and we all started searching for news on the web or running down to where there were tvs. At first I thought it had to have been a terrible navigational accident but a little part in the back of my skull was already thinking "terrorism?" I didn't want to believe it. Then the second struck while my husband was on the phone. Clearly no accident.

Although we were fortunate not to have lost anyone in those Towers, this day still affects me. Quite emotional and hard to explain.

[Brayon]

I was home, on my day off from work, and I was watching the "Today show" on NBC. When the first tower was hit, they imediately cut over to New York, an d I watched the second tower get hit. Then the Pentegon, and the Field in PA. Its been 7 years now, and I can see how complacent we are starting to become again here in the USA. Vigilance needs to be continued, and I respect every man and woman in our Armed Services who are doing so.

Just my views. The world changed that day, but Evil is still out there, looking to prey upon us.

[Coyoterex]

I was at work when it happened, and I can still remember it as if it happened yesterday. Everyone in the office stopped working and were gathered around the televisions in the conference room. I have heard in the past about events, such as Kennedy's assassination, that people never forget, and I can understand that now. I agree with the complacency comment.

It does sound, Dae, like your father did give a last, loving gift to you. I am glad that you were not in the building when it happened, and I can fully understand how emotionally draining this time of year can be.

[ambrosia]

I'm pretty close to Coyoterex's story, and agree with the sentiments about that day being so vivd in memory, I even remember what I was wearing.

I was called upstairs from the storage room by my father (who is my boss.) I remember climbing the stairs in a hurry because I had never heard his voice sound like that before. As I reached the top, he looked at me and said, "We are at war; someone just crashed a plane into the Trade Tower" .. I don't remember saying anything more then, "whaa?!" We went to his office where he had the TV on. All the other staff (12 or so of us) were gathered there around the TV for just about the rest of the day. We watched the second plane crash live, ... the Pentegon ...the Field in PA... the towers falling.. I don't remember working that day. With all of the destruction, I was the most horrified when they caught a single person falling out of one of the buildings on camera. That really personalized it, for me.

[terryrayc]

I was working with the news running in the background when the plane hit. I didn't even notice until half the office ran into my office to turn up the sound. I don't think anyone left my office all day. It's sad that Americans tend to only come together during events such as those...but when we do we come together with a force that cannot be stood against.

My heart goes out to those who lost of loved one or a friend or someone you knew. My only hope is that people never forget.

[soulkey357]

911
Mark and I where still sleeping when the phone rang. It was a friend who called us. I remember hearing her crying as mark talked to her and reached for the tv remote at the same time. He turned it on in time to see them showing the second plane hit. We where on the west coast and it was still dark outside. I remember feeling confused unsure what was happening. Then the sinking realization that it was terrorism. I told Mark, he was on leave, They would be recalling him. Less then 20 minutes later the phone rang again. I was terrified. It is a day that will never be forgotten. I feel for all the unsung heroes of that day. I feel for all who fight for our freedom. And I feel for all who where affected. We will never forget.

[Dusk_Strider]

That day I was in school and was called out no sooner than my second class. I was obviously seven years younger when it happened, and it wasn't until after the incident that I found out about Terrorism. My brother's birthday is 6 days after that day... and I just found out one of my buddy's birthdays is 9-11 that's about all I know.

I do not know anyone personally that was in one of the two buildings, but my prayers are out to those who did, and to those who are now gone. RIP