Five years later by HKCavalier

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Five years later

POSTED BY: HKCAVALIER
UPDATED: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 10:57
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Monday, September 11, 2006 9:25 AM

I was getting up for work. The night had been restless. My two cats had been crazy all night, meowing constantly and clawing at my head to wake me up--last time they did that there was an earthquake, so I was vaguely aware that something was up. I think that was why I turned on the t.v. that morning, which I almost never do. A plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers. I think I tuned in just before the second tower was hit, but anyway, that's the next thing I remember. Then they started falling. I remember thinking to myself, "So that's how it happens."

I told my roommate who was half asleep at the time and all she said was, "Yeah," and went back to sleep (she's pretty hardboiled, that one).

Watching the towers fall (over and over and over again), it came to me that the folks responsible had only intended to crash the planes into the towers, it never occured to them that they could demolish the buildings entirely.

It occured to me that this was happening on September 11th, 9/11. "Call 911, we're in trouble." I take bizarre coincidences like that very seriously. The country's in trouble. The planet's in trouble. Every person with "911" on their minds would be sending out a distress signal.

My work with addicts and abusive cycles taught me to anticipate something like this. As I watched the towers burn, I thought that this could be a signal for healing, a kind of national "hitting bottom." America had to admit to itself that it was no long invincible, never was really; only, bigger and tougher than anyone left on the field. We went around the globe bombing anyone we felt like, whenever we felt it (my roommate's father was a military man, so we knew how trigger-happy Clinton had been in the Middle East), because we were the good guys and because there was no one left to stop us.

The days after the attack were amazing. People stopped and talked to one another on the streets. Strangers would offer to help you at the slightest sign of need. I got to know everyone at my job better in the next few months than I'd known them in the 10 years before 9/11. So many people were sharing their grief. All these famous men were crying on t.v., Dan Rather, David Letterman, others I don't remember.

I watched the Daily Show back then. Before 9/11 the show was absolute fluff. For the longest time after 9/11 John Stewart didn't even joke on the show. His guest list changed from Goldie Hawn and Andrew Dice Clay to obscure political analysts and senators, over night. It was amazing. That show kept me sane that year.

Anyway, I wanted to start a thread where folks could share their memories of that day and the weeks and months that followed.

I would like folks to be able to share all their thoughts and feelings from those days, so please, fellow browncoats, no flame-wars, no links, no name calling. Just, "where were you?" and "what happened next?"

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Monday, September 11, 2006 9:38 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

I was living in London working for a British company. A co-worker called the office to tell me that "your Worldtrade Center" had been struck by an airplane. I remember laughing at how ridiculous that was. "Planes don't hit the World Trade Center!" I squealed. "Its a HUGE F

G building! It would be impossible to not see them!". My boss sent me home not long after, when it became apparent that something really really awful was happening, and when he became aware that I had friends that worked in the financial district in New York. I remember that my son was due for an orthodontic appointment. We stopped at home in time to see the second tower fall. I rememeber being absolutely stunned and sick to my stomach as they should those poor souls jumping and falling from the towers. I remember for months afterward having nightmares about those falling bodies.

Being in a military family we were put under increased security. I remember stopping and watching low flying planes that flew over our building at work or on the base. The base was "locked down" and it became difficult to get British friends on.

But I was really amazed at the reaction of the people around me. The Muslim family from my sons school that sent food round. The Lebanese couple next door, people whom we had only said hello to, coming to the door to tell us how badly they felt. Everywhere we went for months the outpouring of grief and sorrow on "our" behalf. These people of all Nationalities didn't know any other Americans and for them we became the symbol of this country. It was heartening. It was beautiful. It made for the beginning of a better world.

And then Ole GW opened his fat mouth.

We are not better off now. What a relief that those that lost their lives that day can't see what a mockery we have become.

----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Monday, September 11, 2006 9:41 AM

SIMONWHO

I was at work. Someone popped their head in to tell us that a plane had hit a building in the US. I went onto an internet message board and some people were joking about it being like a Spiderman comic or something. Then news of the second plane hit came through and it was clear this was no accident.

It was strange that almost immediately some people posted that they were glad Americans were going to find out what terrorism felt like. Bear in mind that it was mostly Americans who had funded the IRA who had been bombing us for the previous 25 years - there's no denying that in a bizarre karmic way, the shoe was going to be on the other foot.

Mostly I just remember feeling sad. My sister was in tears. My parents couldn't quite believe it. I think afterwards I mostly clung to the stories of hope - those rescued out of the rubble, the steadily falling casualty rate, the way the world united in support of the US.

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Monday, September 11, 2006 9:45 AM

THESOMNAMBULIST

I was in Turkey that day, in Instanbul and just the day before there had been a huge bomb blast in the city killing several people just down the road from the hotel I was staying at... Istanbul is frantic at the best of times but with this explosion there was a real sense of anxiety and fear...

I went to bed. Fearful of any noise and activity all through the night. I slept as though I were sleeping on a ledge.

When I woke up I turned on the TV in the hotel room just as the second plane crashed into the second tower. I was so totally disorientated from the previous days explosion. As I watched what was going on in the US I could barely make sense of the world at that point... I still haven't made sense of it since.

www.cirqus.com

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Monday, September 11, 2006 9:59 AM

JACKCOLT

I live in Denmark so it affect me directly.

I was actually playing Red Alert 2 when my brother told me that they hit the WTC. I was only 13 back then, so I barely knew what it was. He also told me they hit Pentagon. For those who know Red Alert 2, you actually have to destroy the pentagon in the first mission as the ruskies, and it was actually that mission I was playing. Strange.

Anyways, I couldn't comprehend it. Couldn't really understand what it really meant other than people died. My thoughts and reactions are of course very different now.

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Monday, September 11, 2006 10:22 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

I forget which of the major networks it was, but the channel I was watching had a pair of anchors talking over the live feed of the burning tower. One man, and one woman. Over and over, the lady kept asking if there could be some sort glitch in the Air Traffic Control system which would explain why a airplane flew into a sky scraper on a perfectly clear Sept. morning. A faulty beacon, some navigational error....( like any pilot wouldn't recognzie the WTC looming up dead ahead ).This lady was in flat out denial as to what she was seeing. It COULDN'T be that a plane intentionally do that. Had to be another reason. I guess that's what she was thinking....until the 2nd plane hit.

What baffled me were the first reports that a "small commuter , or private plane " had slammed into one of the towers. While that would make more sense...( some dude just wanted to off himself ? or had a heart attack ? ), it was soon evident from the amount of smoke that this wasn't a small plane.

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Monday, September 11, 2006 1:01 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

I was going to my friend's house so we could walk to smart math together (the junior high school started earlier than our elementary, so it was about 7:30).

She opened the door and said something simple like, "The planes crashed into the towers."

I thought that was interesting, and didn't quite understand why she was so upset. We walked to school, and our math teacher let us watch one of the repeating loops the news shows were playing, and she tried to explain it to us. I honestly didn't understand what the big deal was - New York being over 2,000 miles away - and I wasn't affected by it.

In fact, I've never been affected by it. It's as if I read it in a history book, or it happened when I was a baby. It didn't frighten me, or worry me, or anything - it was just something that happened. I'm completely detached from the memories because I was only in sixth grade, and there were no emotions for me - whereas my friend had an uncle who lived less than six blocks away.

I'm not sure if I should think that my reaction (or lack thereof) was bizarre.

::shrugs::

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Monday, September 11, 2006 3:04 PM

FREMDFIRMA

I think the very first words out of my mouth were... "And thus we reap the bitter harvest we have sown."

I was upset, but expecting it (Having read the PNAC primers long before that), and even more so expecting what came after - to the point of writing several blistering editorials of where the Patriot Act was gonna take us, and how quickly - which (although two were printed) were laughed off because "That'll never happen."

I wish to hell I'd been wrong - and I feel pretty damn horrible about the casualties cause folks like me feel indirectly responsible for not being ABLE to stop the stupidities that were going to lead to something like this sooner or later.

And what gives me the shivers now is that our actions these days are guaranteeing another serious incident, only worse, and quite possibly from our own citizens this time as the jackboots stomp louder on our spines.

You mark my words, it won't be too long before we start seeing terrorist incidents and bombings, on american soil, by pissed off american citizens - and if history repeats itself, likely at all the wrong targets harming no one but ourselves even worse.

Never understood that, why rioters burn down the mini-mall, but leave city hall alone ?
It just totally escapes me that angry people would not attack what they felt was the source of their problems....

Anyhow, it's comin here, it HAS come here before (McVeigh for example) and if things continue, will be here to stay...

I wish I had an answer, but I don't.

-Frem

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Monday, September 11, 2006 4:57 PM

DREAMTROVE

When the buildings fell I was watching TV, I had to go to someone's house, I don't have a tv. What was my reaction?

My first response was "no way" which I meant literally, before the buildings fell I said they wouldn't fall. I called it as I saw it, and knowing something about the buildings. Later, my wrongness, and the shouting down I got caused me to cave. I must be wrong, the buildings would topple if planes flew into them. Years later, I was again convinced they wouldn't.

Because you asked, that's what happened. There was no implied conspiracy theory. I didn't know if it was arabs or timothy mcveigh cooks or the IRA, or whoever, but if those buildings were going to crumble, they had something else other than planes, a bomb in the building or something.

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Monday, September 11, 2006 5:35 PM

HARDWARE

I had just finished a contract out for a client. The company I was working for was in 1 World Trade. I already knew I would start work in September for the same client at a different location. We were going to start building the servers and assembling the new infrastructure in the test lab. The actual start date was loose. We had discussed coming up to NYC for 2 weeks starting either September 10th or 17th. The project manager had tried to contact me late Friday, but I had already left town to attend a Jimmy Buffett concert in Bristow VA. On Monday I contacted him and we arranged to start on the 17th. I either would have been in tower 1, at my employer's office on the 78th floor or in 7 WTC at the client's office.

There were literally two offices full of people I knew and had worked closely with for the past 6 months smack dab at ground zero. My girlfriend woke me up after the first plane hit. We watched the second plane hit, and it impacted at about the same level as my company's floor. Hours of frantic phone calls, social networking and leaving messages on home phones later and I got the news.

I am one of the lucky ones. Nobody I knew died. Nearly everyone had a story where if they were a few feet over there, they wouldn't be here anymore. One of the guys in WTC 7 had just left his office for coffee when flaming debris smashed through the window and demolished the desk and chair he had been using a minute before. Another teammate described the sounds of people from the upper floors jumping to their deaths to escape the flames. Another teammate hit the street from the subway just in time to run for his life as the first building fell. So many close escapes, like someone was watching out for the people I knew.

The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.

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Monday, September 11, 2006 6:33 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
I think the very first words out of my mouth were... "And thus we reap the bitter harvest we have sown."

I was upset, but expecting it (Having read the PNAC primers long before that), and even more so expecting what came after - to the point of writing several blistering editorials of where the Patriot Act was gonna take us, and how quickly - which (although two were printed) were laughed off because "That'll never happen."

I wish to hell I'd been wrong - and I feel pretty damn horrible about the casualties cause folks like me feel indirectly responsible for not being ABLE to stop the stupidities that were going to lead to something like this sooner or later.

And what gives me the shivers now is that our actions these days are guaranteeing another serious incident, only worse, and quite possibly from our own citizens this time as the jackboots stomp louder on our spines.

You mark my words, it won't be too long before we start seeing terrorist incidents and bombings, on american soil, by pissed off american citizens - and if history repeats itself, likely at all the wrong targets harming no one but ourselves even worse.

Never understood that, why rioters burn down the mini-mall, but leave city hall alone ?
It just totally escapes me that angry people would not attack what they felt was the source of their problems....

Anyhow, it's comin here, it HAS come here before (McVeigh for example) and if things continue, will be here to stay...

I wish I had an answer, but I don't.

-Frem

Well. that didn't take too long. So much for the call for no flamer posts.

Quote:
I would like folks to be able to share all their thoughts and feelings from those days, so please, fellow browncoats, no flame-wars, no links, no name calling. Just, "where were you?" and "what happened next?"

*sigh*

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Monday, September 11, 2006 6:54 PM

FREMDFIRMA

And how is expressing what I thought and felt at the time a flame, Wingie ?

I felt like a mechanic who's told a disbelieving fool his brakes are bad, and been ignored - watching him plow into a retaining wall, that's how I feel.

Still do.

And what happened next, and happens next, is a relavent topic here - just because it offends you that I feel differently than you, gives you no cause to pick a fight over it, especially since you make it obvious that is your goal.

-Frem.

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Monday, September 11, 2006 7:36 PM

HKCAVALIER

Thank you so much, everyone who has contributed so far. You've all done a beautiful job of recreating those first hours and days which we all had to go through. You've reminded me that even in the face of the horror of that day how hopeful the whole world was for a while. "Today, we are all Americans." I wanna kiss the Frenchman who came up with that.

FMF, I feel so strangely lucky that I have yet to see the footage of those poor souls jumping out of the towers. Death is such a terrible thing to witness, even on video. Thank you for sharing your story.

AURaptor, please, I asked people what their thoughts were 5 years ago and in the months following. What we thought and what we experienced then is not a topic up for debate. Frem spoke for Frem, and gave an account of Frem's world from Frem's point of view. He said nothing about anyone else on this board, so there was no flame in what he said. Please, restrain any further urges you may have to police my thread.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 4:41 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

My story is totally prosaic. I was at work at my priviate industry job in California, fixing a machine. The plant manager went to the office for a break, lunch, I think. He came out and said, " They've crashed airplanes into buildings." We both went into the office to watch the TV. The funny thing is that I don't remember there being anyone else at the plant that day, tho' there must have been.

This was close to 11:00 AM California, so the towers had already fallen.

What we saw was a mix of live reporting, taped replays, and talking heads speculating wildly about what had happened.

The thing I remember most was wishing that the TV people would *S*H*U*T* *U*P*. They were babbling, repeating themselves, reporting *N*O* new facts, speculating, spouting wild and ignorant theories in a desperate attempt to fill the silence, telling us what we were seeing live or about to see replayed.

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:36 AM

CHRISISALL

I was at work with my Pakistani co-worker, who was openly critical of America's foreign policies- almost to the point of offensiveness- when the first plane hit. We were listening to Howard Stern on the radio, as we did most mornings, and suddenly Howard turned into a reporter, schtick dropped away. My co-worker said NOTHING about America getting what it deserved, as I thought he might; he knew he might be in serious trouble if he did, a lot of customers were listening to our radio instead of getting to work.
We worked some 30 miles from ground zero, on Long Island, and I'd just moved my family to another state, and was doing my last week at my job before joining them. It was unreal. I had nowhere to go, the bridges were closed- my family was unreachable...so I put in a very long day.

And when they were moving wounded peeps into the bottom of one of the towers, I started to tear up...I felt like I was in a nightmare, because I knew they were coming down....

Chrisisall

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:39 AM

JOSSISAGOD

I think I was in my Tenth grade U.S. history class. I could not believe what I was seeing, it was like something out of the movies. I came home and my former housekeeper was there and she told me that, because the World Trade Center had been hit, she lost cell phone contact with her husband. that's when it hit me and I finally accepted what happened, I also realized that I had lost my faith in a higher power that day. (very similar to Joss realizing he had no faith at age 15 or 16.)

Fe'nos Tol
JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 8:25 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
It was heartening. It was beautiful. It made for the beginning of a better world.

And then Ole GW opened his fat mouth.

We are not better off now.

Shame the President had to go and ruin the what your terrorist buddies created...bet they had you all measured for your burka and then here comes President Bush to preserve and protect the nation you had already abandoned for your "beautiful world".

If the many memorials to 9/11 teach us anything it is the simple fact that we were attacked and if if we failed to fight back, we'd be attacked again and again until there was nothing left.

Some people say that the worldwide confrontation President Bush has sought with terrorism and its state sponsors is wrong. I disagree. I have decided because I am generous to allow you to hold a differing opinion. Since you are unwilling to defend your own rights, you really only have those I and those like me grant you by our benevolant largess. This is a luxery you can only expect from an American or someone who believes in liberty and justice for all (even those who for whatever reason don't want either). Our enemies would not be so kind.

Edited to add: Since everyone is saying where they were I'll tell you where I was. I was right there with them, the office workers, the firemen, the soldiers, the rescue workers, the media, the President, the heroes of Flight 93...from my home in Ohio I was there with them then and they are here with us now, side by side, till the bitter end and justice done.

H

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:27 AM

JOSSISAGOD

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
If the many memorials to 9/11 teach us anything it is the simple fact that we were attacked and if if we failed to fight back, we'd be attacked again and again until there was nothing left.

In my mind we DID fail to fight back. We started the war in Afghanistan, but never FINISHED it! We have the men and women of our armed forces in there getting shot at, for what?, Osama went into hiding, and instead of trying harder to find him, Good Ol' GW diverts attention to Iraq, where we CAN more easily find the bad guy! How is that succeeding?

Edit: Just a differing opinion.
Fe'nos Tol
JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:33 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
Some people say that the worldwide confrontation President Bush has sought with terrorism and its state sponsors is wrong. I disagree.
H

And you are allowed to disagree - still doesn't make you right.

You can not fight this war by making up facts, invading a nation and occupying it - using the made up facts as your rationalization for the invasion. Because then you are not only an idiot but you also alienate every other country in the world. Because if you do that, if you alienate every other nation - then you BECOME the problem.

----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 10:57 AM

LITTLEALBATROSS29

I live in NYC.Only about 13 miles from ground zero. I used to be able to see the towers from all my windows.
That morning I was playing with my son & smelled something like fire outside.So when I went to my living room window I saw a huge plume of black smoke.Then I turned on the tv....

Let me tell you that there was the worst smell coming into my apartment for days after.There was garbage flying by my window from the towers. It was the most horrible thing I've ever seen.
Luckily mu husband works in midtown & wasn't hurt. BY the time he was sent home the trains were running & he got home ok.Somehow no one we know was there that day.
Hubby works for the phone company & then had to work for 50 days straight to get lower manhattan back in service.

And the city was SILENT that night.I've never expereinced anything like it.And all the Gods willing -I'll never see it happen again.

The lights from groung zero last night were beautiful.And yet very eerie.
Bryce
*************************************

I swallowed a bug.

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