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   September 11th One Year Later

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Topic: September 11th One Year Later (Read 1611 times)

Addams
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September 11th One Year Later
« on: Sep 1^st, 2002, 8:41am »

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September has arrived. As it does, I reflect on what was happening one year ago. It was another Labor Day weekend and we were preparing for a big 40th birthday party on September 9, 2002 (it was a Sunday). On that day several survivorAddicts, including our own GAS here at forumsnet, were meeting in Toronto to celebrate KangarooKeepers 40th birthday. We were so happy and having lots of fun. We had met GAS and his wife earlier in the summer but this time he came on his own. Everyone met up at Addams house and we drove up to the Restaurant called Frankie Tomatoes to surprise KK.

There was so much fun and excitement and happiness.

Two days later a message came across the addicts web site at 8:50 AM that one of the addicts was reporting news that was not even on our radio stations yet. Within minutes of the plane hitting the tower we were already wondering about the safety of friends and relatives.

I can remember the entire day like it happened yesterday. I remember who was at the office, who I spoke to on the telephone, having to evacuate my downtown Toronto office building because of its proximity to the US Consulate. Finding my daughter and feeling like I was a complete space cadet because I couldn't really understand what I had seen that morning.

We gathered at home and watched the news throughout the evening. GAS was unable to get a flight home for 4 days. Separated from his wife I felt so badly for him.

One very strong memory for me was the memorials that appeared at the US Consulate. I hope they permit this again this year - however the consulate is now under great construction upgrades - no doubt because of September 11th. Every day I walk past the consulate to get from my parking spot to my office. Every day I cried for about 30 metres. There were memorials for those who died from all around the world that day. Hand written notes, posters, and flowers, flowers and more flowers.

I will not forget.

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Rhune
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #1 on: Sep 1^st, 2002, 11:10am »

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Beautifully written, Addams.

I had just woken up that morning with my toddler and was barely coherent when my husband called and said, "turn on the tv." I asked him, "Which station?" and he said, "It doesn't matter..."

I turned it on after the first tower collapsed and shortly before the second one went. I asked him, "what is that?" and nearly dropped the phone when he said, "the World Trade Center...the twin towers." I think I said, "Oh my god..." and then we sat in silence as the second tower collapsed.

My little boy ran around the living room, playing, oblivious to what was happening and unhappy his cartoons weren't on. I wished my own life could have been so simple at that moment. Reports of other planes started coming in.. the pentagon, one headed towards camp david, the one that came down due to the passengers fighting back. How many planes weren't responding still, fears about my family that lived in Seattle, because an unresponding plane was reportedly heading there. (turned out to be ok)

I was in the foums, I was online in my game, and we were talking about it everywhere. Lot of people who were reported to live in New York, but we hadn't heard from yet...didn't know if they were safe. Then stories started pouring in, tales of survival, narrow misses. A friend's coworker was there for a corporate meeting at the WTC, but her cab got stuck in traffic and saved her life, a man who's baby sitter was late and so he was saved, etc.

The most touching story I heard was from a friend who's coworker was there for a meeting as well. She saw stranded on the side of the road a muslim woman and her 5 children.. their mini-van had broken down.

By this time lots were speculating that it was Bin Laden or at least someone middle eastern and some backlash was occuring on innocents. She saw them on the side of the road, a mom and her small children and pulled over and begged her to get in before someone who would hurt them came along and spotted them. the woman dove into her car with her children and yelled through the window, "We had nothing to do with this, please don't hurt my children!" My friend's coworker pushed her cell phone through the window and driver's license and said (paraphrased), "Here, call someone and tell them who I am and that you are with me. Just get out of the car and come with me quickly before someone who will hurt you comes." and the woman made her call and finally convinced got out of the car and she took them to safety. As a mother of young children, I can only imagine her terror.

As the anniversary rolls around, I find I'm awfully nervous. I believe that it would be an ideal time for terrorist groups to strike at us again, to send a message with double the reaction. I don't think it will be in the same form.. the airlines will be downright scary that day as far as delays from searches I'm sure. The embassies abroad is who I worry about. I hope they are doubling and tripling securities for that week. I also wonder if Bin Laden will resurface that day, it would strike more terror than on any other day I think. It could be that he's dead.. it could be that he's simply lying in wait.

I don't sit around and think about 911 every day, but with the anniversary coming up I can't help but think about it a little, and feel some lingering sadness and anger. I know I won't be watching too much about it in the daytime. My little boy, who a year ago only cared about cartoons and was oblivious to the rest, now notices what's on TV and has had nightmares. I'll probably spend the day watching the message boards and cnn.com so he can remain blissfully ignorant watching SpongeBob.

« Last Edit: Sep 1^st, 2002, 11:14am by Rhune »

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Irishlass
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #2 on: Sep 1^st, 2002, 11:52am »

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I won't go into a lengthy story about what I was doing on 9/11 or how I was feeling. I first learned what was happening online from a post at SA. I remember shaking as I watched the story unfold on TV and giving Mr. Irish a long and tearful hug when he walked in the door after work that day. A day hasn't passed since that I haven't thought of the horror of that day.

Our church will be hosting a memorial service on 9/11. I usually wouldn't go to something like that, but this is something that I feel compeled to attend. Mr. Irish and I will be there, along with many others to memorialize our American Heros who gave their lives on 9/11.

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Addams
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #3 on: Sep 1^st, 2002, 1:46pm »

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Here is one link that I found where there are links to lists of the names of the people who died on this very tragic and sad day. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/victims/main.html

My daughter also has no idea about what happened on September 11, 2001. I worry about what she may learn at school this year. How will the school be handling this event? I realized today that she will some day learn of this event. How will she learn? Who will tell her? In my view a four year old is still too young to be told what happened.

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Addams
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #4 on: Sep 1^st, 2002, 2:45pm »

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I found this web site http://www.sccoe.k12.ca.us/features/9-11oneyearlater/

it's from the National Association of School Psychologists. I will take some time to go through it and see what they say.

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katy
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #5 on: Sep 2^nd, 2002, 7:56pm »

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Hi all.
September 11th 2001. I dropped off my kindergartner and took my other son with me to vote in the mayoral primary. I came back and saw a message on the answering machine. It was my husband screaming something inaudible, odd since I never heard him scream previous to that. I turned on the tv and saw the first tower burning. At that point they still thought it was some dope who didn't know how to fly. My husband was 5 blocks from the Twin Towers, he left his office after the first tower fell. I didn't hear from him for almost 5 hours, all regular and cell phones had konked out. He was safe, we all were. The memories don't fade for New Yorkers because not a day has past without mention of recovery, restoration, funerals and identification in the newspapers. It is going to be an uneasy day with all four of us in different places that morning. I love New York and God Bless America.
katy

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Rhune
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #6 on: Sep 2^nd, 2002, 9:33pm »

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It's good to hear from you again, Katy. :wave:

I am so glad your family came out of this ok, and I hope nothing goes amiss on the anniversary, especially in New York.

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Kramer
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #7 on: Sep 3^rd, 2002, 7:27am »

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I arrive at work at approximately 7:30AM every morning. I turn on my radio, my PC, my space heater, and get some coffee and start working.

I, too, was shocked to hear a plane hit the WTC. I thought that some pilot really made a terrible terrible mistake and even thought it may have been a possible heart attack.

I cannot even begin to tell you how I felt when the second plane hit. My stomach sunk and I felt doomed. I went to the SA website and started posting updates as they reported them on the radio. The pentagon was hit next and I felt certain that we were officially being attacked by some foriegn country.

I knew that we would be okay once our airforce, navy, marine, army corps got involved, but it was devestating to listen to and finally watch all of the destruction that would be leveled upon us in the meantime.

I work for a Canadian company and they told us that we could all go home if we wanted to.

I stayed at work because I had a lot of work to do and a very tight deadline, but I could barely concentrate. I should have just gone home.

Then when I did go home I watched the news for weeks on end. I had nightmares. I cried all the time, for everyone. For all of the missing, for all of the dead, for all of the bereaved people left behind without their loved ones.

Then I watched as solidarity joined everyone together. Foriegn countries embraced us and stood by us. Americans joined together and vowed support, love, strength, and perserverance. The spirit of America shone through, amidst the tears, ash, and total devestation.

This September 11th will be a very sad day of rememberance for America. It always will be.

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Roo94
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #8 on: Sep 3^rd, 2002, 11:09am »

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I was at work. Heard the news from a co-worker and we all thought it was some small Piper or something that lost control and hit the building. Then plane #2 hit and we knew it was much, much more.

Spent the day at SA - on the boards and in chat. E-mailing my hubby to find out if his brothers were safe. Called my Mom & Dad - just to say Hi. SA kept me going that day - got me through a very long day at work....

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GAS
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #9 on: Sep 3^rd, 2002, 12:18pm »

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It is a day that I'll never forget. I was driving from KK's to the Toronto Zoo when I heard the news on the radio. I didn't believe it, I thought it was some shock jock's stupid prank. I turned onto another station, and learned it was true.

I clearly remember being at the Zoo that day, it was so surreal. Calling home to see if everything was okay, my wife was in shock. I felt so helpless, I was stuck in Canada for several days. Thankfully Addams and familiy were so supportive and allowed me to stay with them till I was able to fly home.

This year, me and my wife are taking the day off to be with each other. It will be a time of reflection.

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crypto
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #10 on: Sep 3^rd, 2002, 12:26pm »

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I too, was at work. I was standing in my bosses office on my way to a meeting when someone stopped by and said a plane had hit the WTC. My initial thought was wow and it must have been some time of small piper. I headed to my meeting and I was walking across the flight line headed back to my desk when my pager went off....it was my husband. I immediately called him and found out the magnitude of what happened. By that time, both planes had hit, the pentagon hit and several planes were still reported as unaccountable. My husband also said that he couldn't get through on my phone. My company had turned off our outside phone lines. I can remember asking my husband, "What the hell is going on?" So here I was at work, cut off from outside communication and going crazy not knowing what was happening. I logged onto SA, CNN and MSN to see if I could get more information, even after we were asked not to get onto the internet. That's when the picture became very clear. The towers had just fallen and the plane in Penn had been found. I then decided to touch base with my mom and let her know that our phones had been cut and the only way to reach me was by pager. My job went into lock down. I watched as they closed gates and barracaded them. We had been upgraded to the highest threat con....basically a war state. We were sent periodic updates about what was going on outside through e-mails and were offered the opportunity to leave work if we wanted. I chose to say and let SA be my eyes and ears. It was a long day and I couldn't wait to get home to see the news. When I finally did get to see the videos, I just sat in awe. All the information that had feed to me throughout the day, just didn't seem to realistically put into perspective what I was now watching on TV. That was when the total magnitude hit me and I just sat their watching as the tears started to well up in my eyes.

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Addams
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #11 on: Sep 3^rd, 2002, 12:38pm »

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on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 12:18pm, GAS wrote:

This year, me and my wife are taking the day off to be with each other. It will be a time of reflection.

What a wonderful idea. There is something special about the two of you taking the day to be together after being apart last year.

I am delaying the opening of my office until 11 AM that day so everyone can have time to reflect on what happened that morning. There are memorial services at the Toronto Stock Exchange (because so many who died were in the financial services industry) and also at City Hall (with representation from many of the emergency services). There will be moments of silence at 8:46 AM and other times. The names of all Canadians who died will be read.

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east
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #12 on: Sep 3^rd, 2002, 2:00pm »

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when i woke up that morning, i went to turn on the tv. the news of the towers had taken over most of the stations. it reminded me of something from 'independence day'. it just didn't seem real. at the time, i was dating an american and a friend of mine was living not five miles from the pentagon. it still doesn't seem real. it doesn't seem like a year has even past...so much has happened and yet... i think i am still numb...numb because of my own ongoing struggle, the devestation of september 11th, the ongoing exploitation and oppression of people all around the world, the pain and torment of the downtown eastside and the desire to live with respect to all humankind and the planet.

as we remember those who died on september 11th, my prayer is that we may also hold close to our hearts all those who live and die at the hands of their oppressors, those who continue to struggle in the midst of pain and suffering, those who struggle under corrupt governments and systems, those whose spirits have been dulled through the media and consumerism and we, ourselves.

peace be with all of you and all those whose hearts are breaking as we approach the 11th,

k-a

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Addams
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #13 on: Sep 8^th, 2002, 7:42pm »

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"Can't Cry Hard Enough" A Tribute to the Victims of September 11, 2001

http://cantcryhardenough.com/

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Addams
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Re: September 11th One Year Later
« Reply #14 on: Sep 8^th, 2002, 7:50pm »

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The link to http://cantcryhardenough.com/ came from
http://www.mentors.ca/disaster.html

They also link to these messages from 17 living Nobel Peace Laureates. http://www.thecommunity.com/crisis/index.html

I find these sites places of comfort to wander to as I ponder and reflect on what has happened.

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