NYC FODORITES - PLEASE REPORT IN SO WE KNOW YOU'RE OK
Sep 11th, 2003, 03:00 AM
#42
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I've already posted a message on here this morning, but I can't get 9-11 out of my head. Reading the messages that were posted here on that awful day, I can't help but wonder what happened to Catherine's brother, who was in the WTC. And people kept asking about someone named Caitlin...
That day, I was driving up to our base, and heard about the events on BBC Radio. I had my infant son with me. Crying with horror and sadness, I pulled over and called my husband, who was at home. The phone rang and rang... A few minutes later, I called again, and my husband answered. He had been outside mowing the lawn, and our British neighbor had come running out of his house to tell my husband what had happened. My husband went to our neighbor's house, and together they were watching the tragedy unfold, when suddenly the second plane hit. My husband said he was so sick with sadness and bewilderment. I hung up with him after a few minutes, and continued up to our base. When I got to the gate, the atmosphere was so intense, so full of dread and shock, so full of AWARENESS, because all the security people were on alert. We were so far away from home and the attacks, yet our world changed in those few minutes, and from then on, our base was transformed. New security procedures, people standing around on the sidewalks and in their offices crying, talking in hushed tones, ALL of us trying desperately to call back to the States to check on loved ones, the American flags that appeared on people's front lawns despite security warnings not to do that, the grim faces of the active duty members, who had their oaths of service on their minds, ready to do ANYTHING to help or fulfill their duties....
All I could do was hold my baby, and cry, and cry, and cry. I whispered in his little ear that I would do my best to make sure he was safe, always, and I prayed that he would grow up in a world that had a firm hold on sanity, a world that valued human life and all its potential. Dinner at our house that evening was very subdued, and after we put our son to bed, my husband and I just sat on the couch, holding each other, unable to speak, watching the tidal wave of news reports on all the channels. This was our country, our COUNTRY, it was humanity in all forms. Our hearts were breaking, and we never felt so far away from our loved ones as we did that day.
So many other things, but that gives you an idea what Americans overseas might have felt that day.
I don't know why I typed all this, really. I guess it still hits pretty hard. Don't mean to upset any of you.
I just hope and pray that something like this never happens again, anywhere, to anyone, no matter what nationality they are. I hope we all find peace.
That day, I was driving up to our base, and heard about the events on BBC Radio. I had my infant son with me. Crying with horror and sadness, I pulled over and called my husband, who was at home. The phone rang and rang... A few minutes later, I called again, and my husband answered. He had been outside mowing the lawn, and our British neighbor had come running out of his house to tell my husband what had happened. My husband went to our neighbor's house, and together they were watching the tragedy unfold, when suddenly the second plane hit. My husband said he was so sick with sadness and bewilderment. I hung up with him after a few minutes, and continued up to our base. When I got to the gate, the atmosphere was so intense, so full of dread and shock, so full of AWARENESS, because all the security people were on alert. We were so far away from home and the attacks, yet our world changed in those few minutes, and from then on, our base was transformed. New security procedures, people standing around on the sidewalks and in their offices crying, talking in hushed tones, ALL of us trying desperately to call back to the States to check on loved ones, the American flags that appeared on people's front lawns despite security warnings not to do that, the grim faces of the active duty members, who had their oaths of service on their minds, ready to do ANYTHING to help or fulfill their duties....
All I could do was hold my baby, and cry, and cry, and cry. I whispered in his little ear that I would do my best to make sure he was safe, always, and I prayed that he would grow up in a world that had a firm hold on sanity, a world that valued human life and all its potential. Dinner at our house that evening was very subdued, and after we put our son to bed, my husband and I just sat on the couch, holding each other, unable to speak, watching the tidal wave of news reports on all the channels. This was our country, our COUNTRY, it was humanity in all forms. Our hearts were breaking, and we never felt so far away from our loved ones as we did that day.
So many other things, but that gives you an idea what Americans overseas might have felt that day.
I don't know why I typed all this, really. I guess it still hits pretty hard. Don't mean to upset any of you.
I just hope and pray that something like this never happens again, anywhere, to anyone, no matter what nationality they are. I hope we all find peace.
Sep 11th, 2003, 04:37 AM
#43
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Can we start a new thread on this topic? I don't know, seems to me that this thread should be left "untouched". (I know, I touched it, but only to see if others agree. Maybe fodors can delete the posts of today.) Just a thought.
Sep 11th, 2003, 05:38 AM
#46
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I put out my flag, as a sign of my persistant grief for the loss of those 3000 lives. We must remember the past and acknowledge that we are still in this war which was imposed upon us even before that day. 
Sep 11th, 2003, 06:11 AM
#49
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Responding belatedly to the original poster's query, the only thing I noticed on commuting in today 9/11/03 was a very minimal apparent police presence on the east river bridge crossing into NYC, in spite of increased threat level. 
IMHO, today should not be a national holiday, disruption is what the terrorists want, suggest pondering how one's work andlifestyle can make the world a better place, also be vigilant and report unusual activity!
IMHO, today should not be a national holiday, disruption is what the terrorists want, suggest pondering how one's work and
lifestyle can make the world a better place, also be vigilant and report unusual activity!
Sep 11th, 2003, 06:19 AM
#51
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Hello friends.
I still have problems controlling my anger. There have been some excellent documentaries on PBS and some networks in remebrance. We must never forget.
It's still like losing 2 close friends.
One of my most cherished pics now is Mrs Kal on Ellis Island with the WTC standing tall in the background.
I still have problems controlling my anger. There have been some excellent documentaries on PBS and some networks in remebrance. We must never forget.
It's still like losing 2 close friends.
One of my most cherished pics now is Mrs Kal on Ellis Island with the WTC standing tall in the background.
Sep 11th, 2003, 06:30 AM
#52
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Kal, funny you should mention the picture. My husband and I were in NYC a few months before 9/11/01 and he happened to snap a shot of the two towers straight up while lying on his back between the two. My husband is never the trip photographer but was for some reason moved by the buildings. After developing the film, the picture came out awesome. After 9/11 we had it enlarged and it now hangs in our home.
Sep 11th, 2003, 06:36 AM
#53
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Swally, Got that one too. 
Sometimes you just have to actually give in and BE a tourist. My only regret is not walking thru the plaza and taking it all in. It was too early on a Sunday to go up to the observation deck.
Speaking of pics, http://hereisnewyork.org/gallery/thu...yID=2&picnum=1
Pic # 1621 on the "Pre 9/11" part is awesome.
Kal
Sometimes you just have to actually give in and BE a tourist. My only regret is not walking thru the plaza and taking it all in. It was too early on a Sunday to go up to the observation deck.
Speaking of pics, http://hereisnewyork.org/gallery/thu...yID=2&picnum=1
Pic # 1621 on the "Pre 9/11" part is awesome.
Kal
Sep 11th, 2003, 10:59 AM
#57
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Thanks for bringing the thread back up, however as I read it, I am sitting here fighting back tears. My family is all NYPD members, and I was the only one in my entire family that works in Manhattan, so I got to see the whole thing unravel in front of me.
I have tried to avoid Ground Zero as much as possible over the last 2 years, because if I even get near it, it just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I get utterly sad and depressed. Now I can't, having to meet a friend there later after work for a memorial dinner of sorts.
I just pray that everyone remembers what happened, to never let anything stop you from your love of travel, and that this never happens again in our lifetimes.
I have tried to avoid Ground Zero as much as possible over the last 2 years, because if I even get near it, it just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I get utterly sad and depressed. Now I can't, having to meet a friend there later after work for a memorial dinner of sorts.
I just pray that everyone remembers what happened, to never let anything stop you from your love of travel, and that this never happens again in our lifetimes.
Sep 12th, 2003, 09:03 PM
#58
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In the days and weeks that followed that horrendous tragedy, we demonstrated the best of who we are as a nation. Through the masses of people helping one another cross the Brooklyn Bridge, to the thousands and thousands of Americans who donated blood or food or clothing for the survivors, to the candlelight vigils in cities and towns across America, to the phone calls from loved ones and long-lost friends offering aid and solace, we all shared a common grief and a common unity.
We were struck a cruel blow that day, but we responded by drawing closer as a nation and as a people, and in our fellowship we were as strong as we have ever been.
We were struck a cruel blow that day, but we responded by drawing closer as a nation and as a people, and in our fellowship we were as strong as we have ever been.
