Tuesday Topic: Remembering 9/11

I had worked late the night before covering a big accident on the local interstate. I woke up to my phone ringing. It was my editor telling me to turn on my TV and get my butt to work.I turned on the Today show while I threw on some clothes. I was just in time to see the second tower get hit. The next 24 hours were a blur. As the cops and crime reporter for my paper, I was the go to person for everything. I talked to local police, state police, the FBI, etc. Our city has the second largest concentration of people of arabic origin in the state so the FBI was here within hours of the attack. I covered it all. Their interviews, the extra police patrols in Arabic neighborhoods where families had gone into hiding, local reaction......I remember typing until my fingers were numb. Taking calls from family and friends wanting updates, getting updates myself as often as possible, and every so often just stopping to listen to the radio or stare at the TV in the newsroom with the other reporters. It was our job to tell our community what was happening but we were still trying to process it. I think if I slept at all in that first 24 hours it was at my desk and I'm not sure I even did that.I didn't see home again until late the night of the 12th. And then only to shower, change, grab a two hour nap and get back at it. Like many others, it was the longest day and week of my life. I slept at work, ate when someone ordered food, and wrote more than I had in my young career as a reporter. I got my first award for one of those stories. I also wore a bullet proof vest for the first time, got drilled on what to do if shot at, etc. How do I observe the day now? Oddly enough, as my anniversary. Three years after the attacks, dh and I got married on another beautiful, sunny Sept. 11.

Wow...I was off work that year (suffered loss of my parents and took a year off) on my way to a womens Bible study, and heard it on the radio, but thought it was not real, kind of like a dream, my husband called and told me what happened. Walking into the Bible study shaken, many women crying - could not stay any longer. Awaiting the birth of a grandchild and rushing to the base pick up pregnant daughter in law and soon to be born grandchild, had to make many decisions for our family that week... I truly remember the pain of that week - concerned about our son and the welfare of so many people, soldiers, families, our nation, it was like a week of being a total zombie, even though the peace of God brings us a calm, it was so surreal, the trauma, the tragedy and now to look back the miracles that have immersed from it all... It still does not make sense, but knowing that in the midst of total uncertainity, we have a calm in the storm... Looking to the cross of calavary keeps this world in perspective like none other, because so much is temporal, though the pain be real. remembering the victims today has caused me to want to fast and pray for so many wounded soldiers... May each of us find that peace today!!! ("But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect us from the evil one." 2 Thess. 3:3) PS: Thank you Ani for sharing the article and the post, it helps to remember even as painful as it is. Gives us a greater appreciation for those who serve in all areas of service.

We had just moved back to Indiana from Montana. We were living with my mother-in-law while we found a house. I had just woken up when my husband was telling me what had happened. I also saw the second tower being hit. I remember so vividly seeing the towers fall, and just not believing it. I was just glued to the TV for days, praying they'd find survivors. I remember gathering our 4 children and standing in a circle in the living room, praying for the entire situation.

I was 7 1/2 months pregnant, and working from home. I had the TV on, and once the second tower was hit I called DH at work (he was Nat'l Guard). I continued to watch as my husband quickly pulled out his 'go to war chest' and getting all the paperwork ready. The call came in that he was on alert within hours. This was also the day my pre-eclamsia went out of control (shocker). Today I am at work, just remembering. I was listening to the ground zero memorial eariler, but couldn't do it anymore. We lost many friends that day, and had others survive due to miracles (or a habit of being late to work!)

I was nearing the end of my maternity leave with the twins. I had just fed them and was sitting on the couch zoning out with them in my arms while watching "Little House on the Prairie" - it's always struck me as ironic that I was watching something so innocent. My dad called and said "Turn on the news, we're being attacked." I switched channels just in time to see the second tower get hit. I called my husband at work, sobbing. The thought that kept rolling around my mind was "Life will NEVER be the same for my girls as it was for me."

Happy Anniversary, Nikki. It's good to have something good to think of, isn't it? I would love to read your award winning story sometime.

I can relate to this! My thought, as I held my then 3 week old child was, "how can I raise him in this world?"I just sat and held him all day and cried and cried. I had a friend ask me to come over and my husband met me over there and between our friends and us, we just passed ds around and took comfort in how innocent he was, but yet, were terrified of what was happening.

Thanks Ani. Three years today. We weren't sure about doing it on Sept. 11, but we decided that we could make it a happier day for a few people at least. And I know two people who have birthdays on the eleventh so it didn't seem like such a terrible date to choose I guess.As for my story: I think it's out there online somewhere. I know the two others I won awards for are. I gave up full time writing a year ago so I could be a more available mom. Now I just freelance from time to time to keep from getting rusty. I'm not sure if I'd be up to another day like that again.

The year after the 9/11 attacks we were chosen as the adoptive family for our 2nd son. We figured we'd either have a happy memory on a sad anniversary, or a doubly sad day, depending on how the committee decided. I remember on 9-11-2001 that my mom called and told me to turn on the news. I thought she was over-reacting, that she must have some how misunderstood what was happening. Then how shocked I was that it was really happening, how I tried to keep my kids from seeing the TV, how we were just kind of numb, too shocked that it had happened to really THINK about it. That came later, of course.

I was on my way taking my ason to preschool at our church after dropping my bio son off at his high school. My husband called...he was working in Newport News ShipYard, Va on a Navy ship when the planes started circling the area. The Capt. of the ship kicked all of the contractors off. So my husband called me to ask if I had heard what was happening at that point the news thought it was just an accident. I pulled into the Chick-fil-a drive through and the woman working the window asked me if I heard about the 2nd towner. I was absolutely in shock. I was near the airport and saw all of the planes landing as fast as they could land them. It was very scarey. I think as time has passed we have forgotten to some degree what we are doing over there but whatever side you lean with your political views I think we need to realize that we haven't been attacked again because of what has been done. I don't agree with everything but I do have family members that have spent time in both places...they have a different view of things. My bio son enlisted in the Marines 3 years ago today. He graduated from hs the following June and left for boot camp in July. It was the hardest thing besides burying my infant first born that I've ever done. He served a year and was medically discharged. Another long story for another time but I guess the significance of this day brings that all back. As others have said...I don't think we will ever be the same!

Ani,I had just pulled into my office parking lot. My dad was supposed to be in the Pentagon that day for a meeting so I immediately called my mom to check. She said he was fine. I couldn't watch much of the day as it was so overwhelming.

(((((((Denice)))))))))I am thankful your Dad was fine.

I'm a day late, but here are my memories. I am a teacher and we were in the middle of giving the graduation qualifying exam when our principal made an announcement. At that point, I didn't realize how serious it was. When I went to lunch, the teachers had the tv on and we watched replays of the towers falling. When I got home that afternoon, I watched the tv for hours and cried....our world and life suddenly seemed to have such different meaning. My next thoughts...more fear. We had just accepted a referral for a baby boy in Guatemala the first of Aug. When they grounded all air travel and things seemed so up in the air....I panicked what that would mean for our adoption. The ensuing months were grueling, but on Dec. 19 we were on our way to Guatemala (after the most thorough security check we've ever encountered) I remembered the day by watching archived videos on the internet....I am a historian...and thoroughly believe you have to understand history to understand the future. Since my son came home shortly after 9-11, at least I do have happy memories, too. God bless all those affected on that tragic day. May God continue to surround them with love and light. Michelle

Thank you everyone, for sharing your thoughts and memories. I know it is painful. I feel it is also important so we don't forget, and we can learn, and hopefully move forward and prevent these things from happening to our future generations. God bless you all.