My 9/11 (37)
cont.
As we walked back to the apartment I was struck by a thought... my brother, who had taken us out for dinner on the previous Friday night... should have been on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center that day.
He worked for a large Risk Management company and had offices in San Francisco, New York and London. His original business trip was to be London on Thursday and Friday, travel over the weekend and then New York Monday and Tuesday.... Tuesday being 9/11. Because my daughter and I were in New York he changed his schedule so he could take us out to dinner and was in New York on Thursday and Friday and had left for London on Saturday.... 47 people died in that office that morning.
It may sound strange... but I am really glad that I was in New York when the tragedy occurred. I was there to experience how people can and do come together in a positive way when something horrific happens... New York was magnificent in it´s ability to care, to reach out to perfect strangers, to comfort each other. The experience changed my life.
When I returned home to San Francisco I began to reflect on what was really important to me... I nearly lost my brother and thousands had lost their lives. It was then that I realized... we have no guarantee that we will see tomorrow... if there is something you want to do, the time to do it is now... say your I love you´s, your thank you´s and let the people in your life know how you feel... because you may not have that opportunity tomorrow.
9/11 gave me a gift... the gift of living each day and of appreciating each moment... knowing there might not be another one.
In loving remembrance of all those effected by this tragic day.
As we walked back to the apartment I was struck by a thought... my brother, who had taken us out for dinner on the previous Friday night... should have been on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center that day.
He worked for a large Risk Management company and had offices in San Francisco, New York and London. His original business trip was to be London on Thursday and Friday, travel over the weekend and then New York Monday and Tuesday.... Tuesday being 9/11. Because my daughter and I were in New York he changed his schedule so he could take us out to dinner and was in New York on Thursday and Friday and had left for London on Saturday.... 47 people died in that office that morning.
It may sound strange... but I am really glad that I was in New York when the tragedy occurred. I was there to experience how people can and do come together in a positive way when something horrific happens... New York was magnificent in it´s ability to care, to reach out to perfect strangers, to comfort each other. The experience changed my life.
When I returned home to San Francisco I began to reflect on what was really important to me... I nearly lost my brother and thousands had lost their lives. It was then that I realized... we have no guarantee that we will see tomorrow... if there is something you want to do, the time to do it is now... say your I love you´s, your thank you´s and let the people in your life know how you feel... because you may not have that opportunity tomorrow.
9/11 gave me a gift... the gift of living each day and of appreciating each moment... knowing there might not be another one.
In loving remembrance of all those effected by this tragic day.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories. You have an incredible heart...
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very touching and personal....thank-you
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Very Nice JB...........I love u
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Very special post JB and I think it made a lot of us stop and think that day...if it didn't then it should have...I was watching too when the second plane crashed and at first thought it was an accident...I cried that day just at the sheer magnitude and sadness at the loss of innocent human lives...the suffering families and sheer terror of the whole event...I don't think there has ever been a tragedy that has hit me sooo hard that wasn't in some way personal to me...You're right...we just never know when our fate has been left in someone elses hands...we can be as careful as we choose in life...but it doesn't mean we will always be safe from those who choose to inflict harm on others....and any day could be your last....
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Ken, Ship, Stef....
thank you, you all brighten my days and nights with laughter.
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Hugz_n_Kissez: Very special post JB and I think it made a lot of us stop and think that day...if it didn't then it should have...I was watching too when the second plane crashed and at first thought it was an accident...I cried that day just at the sheer magnitude and sadness at the loss of innocent human lives...the suffering families and sheer terror of the whole event...I don't think there has ever been a tragedy that has hit me sooo hard that wasn't in some way personal to me...You're right...we just never know when our fate has been left in someone elses hands...we can be as careful as we choose in life...but it doesn't mean we will always be safe from those who choose to inflict harm on others....and any day could be your last....
Me too.. I was about to pick the kids up from school.. and I saw a newsflash about the first tower.. when they thought it was only an accident.. I remember watching gobsmacked.. and worrying for all the people.
So I RAN to the school to get the kids.. and we ran back to keep watching..
Thats when I saw the plane hit the second tower.. and watched it all from then. Absolutely stunned.
Gawwwd.. I've made my eyes leaky now just thinking of it.
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That was very thought provoking JB
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jbibiza: Ken, Ship, Stef.... thank you, you all brighten my days and nights with laughter.
Everyone on this site would say the same about you!!!
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Great (kinda) post JB.. that gave me leaky eyes too.
And Ooooweeeeeeee for your brother!
And Ooooweeeeeeee for your brother!
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Hugz_n_Kissez: Very special post JB and I think it made a lot of us stop and think that day...if it didn't then it should have...I was watching too when the second plane crashed and at first thought it was an accident...I cried that day just at the sheer magnitude and sadness at the loss of innocent human lives...the suffering families and sheer terror of the whole event...I don't think there has ever been a tragedy that has hit me sooo hard that wasn't in some way personal to me...You're right...we just never know when our fate has been left in someone elses hands...we can be as careful as we choose in life...but it doesn't mean we will always be safe from those who choose to inflict harm on others....and any day could be your last....
I see so much hatred and anger connected with that day... and on one level I really understand that. If I had lost my brother that day maybe I would feel different but I sincerely hope not... It was hatred and anger that caused this to happen...
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Claayer: Great (kinda) post JB.. that gave me leaky eyes too.
And Ooooweeeeeeee for your brother!
And Ooooweeeeeeee for your brother!
I am soooo grateful that we went to New York that week... my brother even more so... but he was devastated by it... he lost a lot of good friends and co workers.
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jbibiza: I see so much hatred and anger connected with that day... and on one level I really understand that. If I had lost my brother that day maybe I would feel different but I sincerely hope not... It was hatred and anger that caused this to happen...
That's true and at the same time...there were many miracles and much love on that day too...seen in a country coming together to support each other...
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Hugz_n_Kissez: That's true and at the same time...there were many miracles and much love on that day too...seen in a country coming together to support each other...
That´s what this post was all about... the way strangers reached out to each other with concern and care, the simple acts of providing for rescue workers, that time spent in the meadow in central park still gives me goosebumps when I think about it.
...and on a much more selfish note, my life changed dramatically for the better.
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I remember I was sitting at my desk at work (at my previous office) & had the radio turned on. When they talked about the first plane hitting the WTC, I thought they were just doing an Orson Wells type thing. Then the girl in the cubical behind me said, "Did you hear that??" I told her I did, but didn't believe it. Then we heard that a second plane had hit the other tower. Then my coworker said, "Another plane just hit the Pentagon!!" Well, my mom's cousin works there. So I called my mom to see if Paul was OK. She said she'd call when she heard something. It turned out that he was in another area of the building, but was helping with rescue efforts.
Some of us went to the nearest TV to watch what was going on. As we watched, the towers crumbled to the ground & we just sat there crying, with our hands over our mouths in disbelief.
Then we heard that a plane had gone down in PA. Well, that just horrified us, since we were IN PA! I remember saying to my coworker, "What the HELL is happening?? Where do we go???"
I just wanted to go pick my daughter up from school & head to my parents' place to be with the ones I loved. But we stayed at work... not that much work even got done that day.
It was a day most of us won't forget what we were doing.
Some of us went to the nearest TV to watch what was going on. As we watched, the towers crumbled to the ground & we just sat there crying, with our hands over our mouths in disbelief.
Then we heard that a plane had gone down in PA. Well, that just horrified us, since we were IN PA! I remember saying to my coworker, "What the HELL is happening?? Where do we go???"
I just wanted to go pick my daughter up from school & head to my parents' place to be with the ones I loved. But we stayed at work... not that much work even got done that day.
It was a day most of us won't forget what we were doing.
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sweetowen: I remember I was sitting at my desk at work (at my previous office) & had the radio turned on. When they talked about the first plane hitting the WTC, I thought they were just doing an Orson Wells type thing. Then the girl in the cubical behind me said, "Did you hear that??" I told her I did, but didn't believe it. Then we heard that a second plane had hit the other tower. Then my coworker said, "Another plane just hit the Pentagon!!" Well, my mom's cousin works there. So I called my mom to see if Paul was OK. She said she'd call when she heard something. It turned out that he was in another area of the building, but was helping with rescue efforts.
Some of us went to the nearest TV to watch what was going on. As we watched, the towers crumbled to the ground & we just sat there crying, with our hands over our mouths in disbelief.
Then we heard that a plane had gone down in PA. Well, that just horrified us, since we were IN PA! I remember saying to my coworker, "What the HELL is happening?? Where do we go???"
I just wanted to go pick my daughter up from school & head to my parents' place to be with the ones I loved. But we stayed at work... not that much work even got done that day.
It was a day most of us won't forget what we were doing.
Some of us went to the nearest TV to watch what was going on. As we watched, the towers crumbled to the ground & we just sat there crying, with our hands over our mouths in disbelief.
Then we heard that a plane had gone down in PA. Well, that just horrified us, since we were IN PA! I remember saying to my coworker, "What the HELL is happening?? Where do we go???"
I just wanted to go pick my daughter up from school & head to my parents' place to be with the ones I loved. But we stayed at work... not that much work even got done that day.
It was a day most of us won't forget what we were doing.
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hijacks started
Good evening everyone! I know many of you are pi........d off at me after mposts last night and probably think i am just a hatieful person.
And thats ok everyone does have the right to their opinion. But the truth is I am a kind caring person. Obviously I was very angry last night. I thought it wa sunthinkable that on the eve of this of all days so many people seemed to be sympathising with the terrorists. to all that I offended last night I apologise from the heart.
I was working for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team that day in Marketing dept. It was 1 of those rare days when I was ready for work earlier than i had to be and turned on the tv to try and catch sports highlights from the night before. About 3 minutes after I turned on the telly the news of the 1st plane strike hit the airwaves. I remember that shortly after that the reporters speculated that a small plane had veered off course and it was some sort of accident.
Then the 1st footage of the buiding came in and I knew that was not true. I was a crash and rescue firefighter in the air force and i know all to well the characteristics of burning jet fuel. When I saw that footage I suspected we were under attack of some kind. I had to leave for work. It was about a 25 minute drive to the stadium.
When i got there of course all the tv's were on and still not much info about what really happened. Very shortly after arrival the 2nd plane hit and we all knew we were being attacked. News of the other rolling in and the groundings began. I remembered that 1 of my best friends husbands company had an office in the towers and had traveled to NYC a few days before that. Just as I had that thought a firefighter was being interviewed on tv. I turned my attention back to the tv. Moments later we could see something falling during that interview and a loud thud was heard in the background and an awning in the background collapsed. It was the 1st jumper!
I called my friend and her husband had called her to say he was still in his hotel. thank god his meetings weren't scheduled until later in the day! I was sitting at my desk and started crying like a baby because i somehow realised that our lives our world and our country had been changed forever! Since that day I have told my friends I love them every chance i get and appreciated every day of my life. i decided then and there to make the most of every day. I love with my heart and soul and do not avoid my fellings any more. Since I have been in China I have changed my life completely and have done a great job of winning hearts and minds. I am a really good teacher and I really love the spirit of these people and they recognize that in me. I have had great success here and get job offers weekly from people that have heard about my unique teaching style and warmth for these people.
9/11was terrible day and last night I lost it when I saw whwt I considered extremely irreverent attitudes toward my country and those that died that died that and freed my heart. Like i and others have have said Freedom, personal or national, is never free.
These are the kinds of posts I expected last night!
Good evening everyone! I know many of you are pi........d off at me after mposts last night and probably think i am just a hatieful person.
And thats ok everyone does have the right to their opinion. But the truth is I am a kind caring person. Obviously I was very angry last night. I thought it wa sunthinkable that on the eve of this of all days so many people seemed to be sympathising with the terrorists. to all that I offended last night I apologise from the heart.
I was working for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team that day in Marketing dept. It was 1 of those rare days when I was ready for work earlier than i had to be and turned on the tv to try and catch sports highlights from the night before. About 3 minutes after I turned on the telly the news of the 1st plane strike hit the airwaves. I remember that shortly after that the reporters speculated that a small plane had veered off course and it was some sort of accident.
Then the 1st footage of the buiding came in and I knew that was not true. I was a crash and rescue firefighter in the air force and i know all to well the characteristics of burning jet fuel. When I saw that footage I suspected we were under attack of some kind. I had to leave for work. It was about a 25 minute drive to the stadium.
When i got there of course all the tv's were on and still not much info about what really happened. Very shortly after arrival the 2nd plane hit and we all knew we were being attacked. News of the other rolling in and the groundings began. I remembered that 1 of my best friends husbands company had an office in the towers and had traveled to NYC a few days before that. Just as I had that thought a firefighter was being interviewed on tv. I turned my attention back to the tv. Moments later we could see something falling during that interview and a loud thud was heard in the background and an awning in the background collapsed. It was the 1st jumper!
I called my friend and her husband had called her to say he was still in his hotel. thank god his meetings weren't scheduled until later in the day! I was sitting at my desk and started crying like a baby because i somehow realised that our lives our world and our country had been changed forever! Since that day I have told my friends I love them every chance i get and appreciated every day of my life. i decided then and there to make the most of every day. I love with my heart and soul and do not avoid my fellings any more. Since I have been in China I have changed my life completely and have done a great job of winning hearts and minds. I am a really good teacher and I really love the spirit of these people and they recognize that in me. I have had great success here and get job offers weekly from people that have heard about my unique teaching style and warmth for these people.
9/11was terrible day and last night I lost it when I saw whwt I considered extremely irreverent attitudes toward my country and those that died that died that and freed my heart. Like i and others have have said Freedom, personal or national, is never free.
These are the kinds of posts I expected last night!
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J,
You were not supposed to get me choked up
You were not supposed to get me choked up
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PS....This is the 1st year since then I have not been home with my friends on this day so the memories, hurt and anger overwhelmed me and no support group to handle this day with me!
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- men's perspective towards women
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We had a fantastic week together.... shopping, going to the theater, purchasing knock off Kate Spade bags from car boots (that´s trunks for Americans) my brother who was there on business took us out for an amazing meal at Tavern on the Green... it was an fantastic week.
The day we were leaving my sister and I had a coffee before she left for work and afterwards I went into the bedroom to start packing, leaving my daughter watching TV in the living room. All of a sudden I heard my daughter shouting "Mom, Mom" and I ran through to see what had happened...
She was sitting eyes glued to the television with tears streaming down her face..."something awful just happened" I sat with her and listened to newscasters saying a plane had just crashed into the twin towers and I thought "OMG what a horrible accident... and as we continued to watch and saw the second plane crash.... I realized that what we were seeing was no accident.
I reached my sister at work and she was on her way home... we realized that the subways and bridges would soon all be closed down and had no idea for how long. I left my daughter in the apartment and went out to buy water, food, candles, batteries... We had no idea what would happen in the next few days.
In the market everyone was talking... and the question on everyone's lips was "are you missing anyone?" Total strangers confiding in and consoling each other. I got back to the apartment and my sister, daughter and I continued to watch the events on television... we could smell the burning buildings, the apartment being about 10 blocks north of the towers.
We got on a bus to go down to the nearest blood bank to donate blood and found the line was about 3 blocks long and they were asking that people come back the next day... we had to go to 3 stores before we were able to purchase socks and T shirts for the rescue workers... the first 2 had already sold out. After delivering them... (the buses were running and not charging anyone, they were going off route to get people where they needed to be) we went to the meadow at central park... we just felt lost and not sure what to do.
A lot of other people seemed to be feeling the same as more and more people came to the meadow... and then a surprising thing happened... a few people got up and walked towards the center of the grass... stood and bowed their heads... more and more people joined them, my daughter, sister and I joined as well and it became a huge circle of prayer... total strangers standing together reflecting on what had happened, reaching for each other´s hands, praying for those lost.... and as quietly as it started... people began to drift off again.