This morning I realised that...

[heidi]

I'd found myself forgetting. I couldn't remember where the Mrs Fields was in relation to the sbarro's on the lower shopping level, and whether The Greatest Bar on Earth was above or below Windows on the World. SO I went back and read my post from September 14, 2001, so I could remember as much as I could about the place I walked through every day for months as I worked at CNBC at the American Stock Exchange, and later, for American Express, and on so many days in between and after, en route to lunch, a firm Christmas party, Borders Books.

I still spend time on the morning of September 11 in reflection, for a number of reasons.

Because Doug, who was at Haverford with Aaron, and who married a colleague of both of ours, was killed at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Because my first boyfriend in college lost a cousin.

Because my best friend lost a cousin.

Because my friend Yael from HpfGU lost a cousin.

Because Aaron's cousin made it out alive.

Because my brother had dined at Windows on the World nine days before.

Because my husband used to work construction on the top of the South Tower.

Because I loved the quartzes in Windows on the World.

Because I thought Cassie had gone to the WTC that morning to deal with an insurnace thing; she hadn't.

Because Ali saw them fall from her window at NYU.

Because John wasn't sure his father was going to be able to get home.

Because my friend Jamie was stranded in Nova Scotia when the planes were grounded; she was en route home from her brother's wedding in Paris, and nobody knew where she was for a day and a half.

Because I'd flown out of New York eight days before, and had lived there for about five years, over the years of my life, and know so many other people who were affected in so many different ways. I know dozens who ran from the shrapnel and who saw the bodies fall and who heard the crash and who nearly died. I got an email from my friend Sue via her Blackberry as she fled uptown, and an AIM from my friend Lisa who's worked in the Deutschebank building that housed my favorite Chinese restaurant on Wall Street and I knew they were safe. And so many people never got that email or that AIM or that call and their friends and loved ones never came home and I know too many of them to mark this as just another day.

Comments

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

*hugs to you*
A friend of mine who lives in Orange County, CA, knew one of the people who died in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. That's as close as I came personally to knowing anyone who was lost in 9/11 or who lost someone. But I think most of us feel like we lost a part of ourselves that day. And I don't feel one iota safer than I did then; if anything, I feel less safe because of certain people's decisions. I will spend some time today reflecting on the folks who died, those who were rescued and the rescuers too.

[sinisteral.livejournal.com]

Truthfully, I haven't known anyone personally that lost their lives during the 9/11 incident, but I've heard from people who have. It's a day that none of us could forget; when so many innocent lives were taken. We always think back to "if it was like this..or if only--" Sorry I couldn't make you feel any better, hugs**

[rookie131.livejournal.com]

I, too, have good stories of people that made it through the day. It was a turning point in my life as it was for so many people.

If you have not seen it, I would recommend seeing the documentary 9/11 that was filmed by the Naudet brothers. It was supposed to be about a rookie firefighter in NYC, but it became so much more. There is footage from inside the WTC as it fell and they were with Father Judge when he was killed. It is amazing.

Shay

[conversant.livejournal.com]

We took a walk this morning, and my husband observed that it's another beautiful day here in Ohio where we are today (and where my spouse was that day -- I was in the Czech Republic that day and it had been a perfectly beautiful afternoon). It has been equally beautiful each of the September 11s since that one, and for him that is the thing he most remembers: having been outside in the beautiful morning before walking into his office to hear the news on the radio.

There's something in that juxtaposition of a crystal clear early Autumn day against the still too-clear memory of the images of smoke, fire, rubble, ash and death, which sums up for me all the irreconcilable, irreparable pieces of that day.

[sff-corgi.livejournal.com]

Vincent Princiotta, Ladder 7, Manhattan.

He was the brother of one of my coworkers. I sent my Bush 'tax rebate' to his family, because that money was supposed come from Americans to help Americans. And they needed it the most at the time.

Re: 9/11 entry

[redina]

I remember that day, my reactions, the news reports, and more.

About a few days ago, I realized another anniversary of September 11 would arrive. I think it's hard to forget what happened then and it being a catalyst to what the country is going through now.

[greyandgrey.livejournal.com]

I realized at about 2.30 yesterday that I had barely even remembered, and I mourned for a moment with my XC team between races at the XXX Challenge at Belmont Plateau, wishing that the people who had organized the event had taken a moment some time to have a moment of silence. I was really scared by the fact that I had almost forgotten, because Piper's mom was in the building and her linen napkin from her breakfast meeting saved her life, and because my parents used to change trains there every day before I was born, and my grandfather's wife was fortunate enough to have taken that terrible day off because she had the flu. Most of all, I was scared that I needed a reminder.

BTW: when you say Haverford, do you mean Haverford PA?

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

It's amazng the things one remembers and thinks about! And HAverford, in my context, is the college, where my husband was Class of 88.

[greyandgrey.livejournal.com]

I run there almost every week!! My dad worked for 14 years in the development office at the boy's school (of the same name) right next to it!

[saitaina]

I usually try to avoid what this date means, because I don't like remembering that morning (or most of that day in fact).

But sometimes, like when I read your post, it reminds me that I wasn't the only one watching on telivision and waiting for news from loved ones that they were alive and safe.

You'd think having two friends in affected areas with cell phones, you'd get the news quickly...but I had to wait all day to find out they were still with me. I can't help but think of those who never recived those calls, and feel their pain.

Sometimes, living in the numbness is better...but sometimes you have to remember the hell, to appriciate the now. Or at least I do.

Thank you, Heidi, for reminding me that I was not alone that morning.

[shadafakup.livejournal.com]

I was never there, and never lived in New York, but somehow, it seems inappropriate to remain silent for such a thing.

Just so you know, others outside American have not forgotten that date, and never will. To quote : "We will never forget".

My love goes out to you.

And congratualations *sparkles* on your pregnancy. <3333333 It changes everything, from what I've heard. *showers with glitter*

~Shadafakup

[psychic-serpent.livejournal.com]

My friend and fellow church choir member, Christine, who is also a wonderful painter and art teacher, lost her dad that day. He worked in the financial district and not in the towers themselves, but he was often in the habit of walking near the towers to get to various meetings and his own office. He didn't come home after that day, his body was never found, and no one really knows precisely what happened to him.

I don't know when Christine will feel like singing again, when she will feel like painting again, when she will be able to teach again, or whether she will ever even return to Philadelphia. (She went home to Poughkeepsie to be with her mom and is still there, three years later.)

Our pastor went with her to visit Ground Zero, which she (our pastor) describes as one of the emotionally draining events of her life. (And this from someone who was in the Peace Corps in Central America in the 1980's.) It just kills me that all that some people are thinking about concerning the site is how much money can be made and how soon new construction can start.

My architecture profs remind us that due to the huge amount of asbestos in the buildings, all of which was dispersed by the dust cloud that resulted from their collapse, we haven't seen the end yet of deaths related to that horrific day. (Think of all of those selfless people who flocked to NYC to help! I don't even know if they know that they should have regular respiratory check-ups and screenings for asbestosis.)

But what gets me the most, I think, is that it seems that my friend Christine died that day, although her body still lives. She had such a gift to give to the world through her music, her art and her teaching. I hope someday that she feels moved to give the world those gifts again.