In which I prove my naivety, time and time again.
September 11, 2006
I remember I had jumped in my car and driven to the grocery store on my way to work. I flipped on the radio and heard a breaking news story that an airplane had flown into the World Trade Center in New York City, NY.
Instinctively, I thought to myself, "Gah. What an idiot. How could he not see that enormous building in front of him?" (Naive!) I imagined that the plane had clipped the penthouse portion of the building, and then wondered why the plane was flying so low and so close to the skyscrapers.
I parked, jumped out of my car, and ran inside the grocery store. As I stood in line, I heard a woman behind me on her cell phone, saying that a second plane had flown into the towers. Confused, I whipped around because: two planes? You've got to be kidding me. What were the air traffic controllers doing? Were the pilots drunk? How in the world did two planes do the exact same thing? (Naive!)
It never crossed my mind that it was a terrorist attack. (Naive!)
I left the store and drove to work. I worked across the street from the grocery store, not nearly long enough to hear more about the events that had transpired. I caught the words "terrorist" and "attack" just as I turned the engine off and ran into work. I entered the front door and found a somber staff preparing for the day.
I flipped on the radio, sat down and stared at it. I listened to NPR, CNN and local radio stations.
I was stunned.
I couldn't believe what had happened on the precious soil of the U.S.A. that morning. I was devastated when I learned about the Pentagon and about United 93.
I wanted to drop everything, to drive to New York, to help. Somehow, I just wanted to help. I didn't know how. I still don't.
I was in college, and the next several days I didn't attend class. I couldn't. I sat in my living room and watched live coverage of the aftermath. I sat in my driveway and stared at the sky as F-16 jets whipped around the skies. I cheered for them, assuming it was some sort of proud display of the military's protection over our country.
I later learned they were just chasing a private plane out of the sky, since all flights had been cancelled. (Naive!)
September 11, 2001 changed me. It changed many of us. Lawyerish, a blogger I've been reading for just a few months, lives in New York City. Her recent account of the events of that day* drew me in and forced my heart to melt into a puddle of sadness.
This, as well as other stories, acts as a strong reminder of who we are fighting in this war. I only hope we reach the right target, and soon.
*If you also wrote about September 11, 2001, please leave a link in the comments.
Technorati: "9/11", September 11, Terrorism, World Trade Center, wtc
Comments
Then I'm naive too. I had all the same thoughts. It didn't even hit me at first why it was so tragic when the towers fell. It took about 30 seconds to realize how many people were still inside. NAIVE.
I wrote about it too.
http://tiggereeyore.blogspot.com/2006/09/we-must-remember-lest-we-forget.html
Posted by: CPA Mom | September 11, 2006 10:39 AM
Thank you for sharing your memories of that day. I wouldn't say that you were naive, I think you were just innocent.
http://amstaffmom.blogspot.com/2006/09/we-will-never-forget.html
Posted by: AmStaff Mom | September 11, 2006 10:57 AM
It was an incredibly amazing day. Our innocense left us that day.
~Jef
Posted by: Thunderfish | September 11, 2006 11:10 AM
I forgot, I wrote about it as well and what I saw.
http://thunderfish.blogspot.com
Posted by: Thunderfish | September 11, 2006 11:14 AM
I can't stop thinking about that day today, and I don't think I should.
My receptionist inadvertantly told my mother I was on Flight 11 - a flight I'd taken several times before, but was not scheduled for that day, or any day in the future. It was an awful, sickening experience, and I wrote about it here:
http://www.jonniker.com/?p=220
Posted by: jonniker | September 11, 2006 11:28 AM
Jes, your naivety was shared by many. I don't think many could have imagined the events that occured that day, nor would we have ever chose to.
http://www.kpinion.net/2006/09/we-all-have-story-we-all-have-memory.htm
Posted by: Katie, the original | September 11, 2006 11:58 AM
I wrote. There are three posts regarding the events of 9/11 and my reflections today.
http://helenadawn.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Willow | September 11, 2006 12:03 PM
Jes, we were ALL naive and I wish we could go back to those days.
I am part of the 2,996 Project and my blog honors Irina Kolpakova, an incredibe woman. It was my privilege to pay tribute to her.
2,996 Project: Irina Kolpakova
Posted by: juliness | September 11, 2006 12:11 PM
I was listening to the radio getting ready for class my freshman year in college. I thought the DJs were joking -- they sometimes could cross the line. Then, when the second one hit, I knew it wasn't an accident, but I didn't think "terrorist." I went to my first class, and no one really talked about it. No one seemed worried. Then, as I walked to my next class at 9:30 that morning, campus was quiet somehow. Everyone was on their phones talking about it. I called my dad to figure out what the big deal was. Several of our classes were cancelled. We were all in shock.
Posted by: my life is brilliant | September 11, 2006 12:59 PM
I was listening to the radio getting ready for class my freshman year in college. I thought the DJs were joking -- they sometimes could cross the line. Then, when the second one hit, I knew it wasn't an accident, but I didn't think "terrorist." I went to my first class, and no one really talked about it. No one seemed worried. Then, as I walked to my next class at 9:30 that morning, campus was quiet somehow. Everyone was on their phones talking about it. I called my dad to figure out what the big deal was. Several of our classes were cancelled. We were all in shock.
Posted by: my life is brilliant | September 11, 2006 01:00 PM
I'm sorry I posted that twice! I'm a dork ... :)
Posted by: my life is brilliant | September 11, 2006 01:01 PM
I wrote a little about it in my very first post. But I've never been able to properly express my feelings during that day. I don't think I'll ever be able to.
Posted by: Mo | September 11, 2006 01:01 PM
Remembering...
Posted by: Deals | September 11, 2006 04:04 PM
I think 9/11 was such a complete shock for us Americans. It took a long time to register that someone had attacked us using our planes with our citizens. I got to work that morning just as the buildings collapsed and it felt surreal. It still does in some ways, maybe because I am not in New York or because I do not know any of the victims or their families.
It won't be the last attack on our soil. It certainly wasn't the first...just the most devestating. I fear for my children's future as the world closes in and we are no longer in that bubble we believed ourselves to be in for so many years.
Posted by: Jenn | September 11, 2006 04:04 PM
Our world, safe, secure, protected was shaken up on 9-11-01. It was definitely a defying moment in my life and increased my awareness of how precious life is.
Posted by: Colleen | September 11, 2006 06:34 PM
Today, in addition to remembering all the horrific and uplifting images from that fateful day, I remember a single individual: Marlyn C. Baustia.
http://celebratewewill.blogspot.com
Posted by: Courtney | September 11, 2006 10:38 PM
I didn't write about it, but I talked about it last night at Bible Study - how could you not? It is nice to see that we are finally bouncing back, but I like that final closing line - are we hitting the right target... sometimes it seems like all our efforts are a lesson in futility. I'm reminded of Vietnam and I wonder, "what is the point?" When it is all over I hope we have one.
Posted by: eddo | September 12, 2006 03:18 PM
I had the same thoughts, Jes. I thought it was an air traffic control screw-up, even after the second plane.
It was on a Tuesday and on Friday night the college in my town had a huge fireworks display for their 150th anniversary. I was not on campus - all I heard was the explosions and I completely freaked out. I thought it was all over because we were just a few miles from a nuclear plant. I still hate that college for their utter stupidity and tackiness in going through with the ceremony. It was no time to "celebrate."
Posted by: Suebob | September 12, 2006 04:23 PM
Like you, I felt so helpless sitting there in my comfortable house while workers dug through rubble in the rain (do you remember how it rained that week?) And then the next week I was working at Target and while outside on a break an airplane flew towards the store, and I FROZE. I was terrified it would crash into the building.
I wrote about , a true hero.
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 13, 2006 09:17 AM
Time for a new post!!
Posted by: eddo | September 13, 2006 11:22 AM