9/11 - what were you doing?
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9/11 - what were you doing?
| Mon, 09-11-2006 - 4:52pm |
Today is a special day in our history. I think being a mom makes a tragedy like this seem more real - because you can relate to all of those families who were torn apart by losing loved ones. I feel so lucky that my life is still intact and I am so sad for those whom it wasn't.
What were you doing on the day? Your reflections?

At the time I was working in a fast-food restaurant, and I can still remember a convoy of military jeeps pulling in. The servicemen were basically our only customers that day, and I can assure you, they ate for free! They were National Guardsmen, I believe, and had quickly been called into active duty.
I still remember wishing I was home, holding my children (the princess was an infant then!) instead of at work, but comping those meals for our soldiers made me feel somehow useful, which everyone wanted to be.
I still spend a lot of snuggle time with my children on the anniversary. It seems as if it's unconscious, though... although now they're old enough to hear and ask about it. It's pretty surreal to me, still.
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Well, I live in Canada, on the other coast, but we still got plenty of coverage of it.
I was working at a client site, and they had planned a blood drive for that day.
I was on the deck of the Staten Island Ferry waiting to dock to go to my office
2 blocks from the WTC. When I saw the second plane hit. The people around me were screaming and crying histerically, but all I could do was just stand there with my mouth open in shock. We were supposed to have our monthly meeting at 2 WTC with our auditing company, but I had been called earlier that morning and been told it was canceled. I quickly went into panick mode for all my friends and co-workers who I knew were there.
It would take several days before I would find out that all were well, but we all knew someone that was missing(at first), then the sad realization came that they were never
comming back. Memorial Services became the norm, 5 years later I only know of one family
that ever got their love ones remains back.
Our office was damaged and we were only allowed at first to quickly retrieve items at half hour intervals. When I saw the site and the area for the first time,I just lost it and went hysterical crying right there on the street for the first time, ironically I was surrounded by people doing the same thing around me. Words were not necessary, we would just look at each other and know. My office was covered in the tick black ash, and sadly my first thought was: "God, I hope those aren't human ashes or this stuff is toxic"
Sadly now folks are dying and getting sick. My asthma has increased significantly since
then. Because I was exposed to the dust for weeks, I registered with a WTC health monitoring association. I'm not too worried because my exposure was limited, not like those poor folks working on the recovery effort. I have a letter from the EPA saying that the air was safe, I didn't believe it back then, I knew at least there had to be asbestos in the air.
The company gave us counseling for a while and little by little life got back to normal.
I no longer take life or anything for granted anymore. Nothing is guaranteed and you just never know, so I try to count my blessings daily. Yesterday was hard, we had
memorials here all day. I spent the day working and crying. Today I'm a little better.
The counselors advised us not to keep re-traumatizing ourselves, so I'm using some of their methods to feel a little better today.
It's ironic that relatives and friends have asked me for years about the 11th and I always clam up, it's just too painful. This is the most in 5 years that I've ever said
anything about it.
I still clam up.
Thanks Liz for your kind words. Like you I avoid all the TV coverage, it's just too much. I really feel for the families. I do miss downtown though, my company moved to 55th street 2 months after the 11th and we've been here since. I'm going to be looking for a new job soon, and downtown will be my taget area. I'm tired of my long commute.
Take care,
I am glad you shared your story, Taina. That is surely a most horrific thing to have witnessed so close in your life and on the day. You are so right that we have no guarantees and cannot take life for granted. This story really proves that. I did visit the WTC a long time ago - and it was such a bustling place with an unbelievable view. It is hard for me to comprehend the magnitude of the loss.
I was sitting in my office and my secretary's husband called. We thought he was kidding so we turned on the news. We were mortified. I just wanted to go and get DS and bring him home from school so he would be safe with me. The thing that was so scary was the time after - like what is coming next. I read the stories in the Wall Street Journal for a long time. They are really good at finding all sorts of witnesses and testimonies and assembling timelines and info. The survivor's stories were incredible. And yours is no exception.