where were you 9/11/01?
I have asked this question — where were you on Sept. 11 — and been asked that question numerous times in the past six years. The events of that day –through the horror and tragedy — seem to create a sense of unity and commonality as we each recall the events of the day.
I was employed at a local government association, and I had been working for months to arrange a luncheon in the Pittsburgh area for prospective members. I was thrilled — some of my key recruitment targets had accepted the lunch invitation and the day held tremendous promise from a membership standpoint. My boss, Rick, and I left early that beautiful morning for our drive across the turnpike. We were listening to the radio and busy chatting when the first news bulletin came across announcing that a plane had flown into one of the Trade Center towers. Given our line of work, we started speculating about the type of day the mayor of New York City would have because of this tragedy. We had no idea.
Then, Rick’s phone started ringing. And my phone started ringing. And the events of the day began unfolding as we headed further and further west. We were stopped at the rest area in Somerset when the news about Flight 93 crashing just miles away came through. We continued west until our executive director called — the city of Pittsburgh was closing all incoming bridges, the mayors that were coming to our lunch needed to stay in their municipalities, and the overwhelming sense of uncertainity was too much. We were to turn back.
The ride back across the turnpike was quiet. Rick and I listened to the radio, occassionally taking phone calls from people wanting to make sure we were ok. Harrisburg was eerily quiet. I didn’t realize until I got home how strange it was that we listened to all this news unfold while millions watched it. I couldn’t stand the images. I watched little television that week; it was just too heartbreaking.
Now, it’s six years later. In some ways, 9/11/01 feels like a lifetime ago. Movies have been made, books have been written, and music has been recorded — all inspired by that terrible day. I think about those directly affected and wonder what today feels like for them. Does their loss seem as real as though it happened yesterday? Or does it feel like a lifetime ago?
I had just gotten up and was eating a bowl of Pops when I turned on Fox News. I was still basking in the excitement of having been hired for my first post-graduate school job.
Fox News was showing the tower on fire, and I remember thinking how horrible it was that a plane had slammed into the building. What a tragedy. And as they showed the building, I saw the second plane hit.
It was a weird feeling, because I remember not thinking anything, but at the same time knowing it was deliberate.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:04 amI was a senior in high school, sitting in first period History (a painfully boring class) when our principal made the announcement over the intercom. For the rest of the day, we basically watched the news in each class. Some people skipped out, and headed for the “lookout” spot in our area from which you can see the NYC skyline. Others, like me, went home as soon as possible to be with family. Just as “where were you when JFK was shot?” was the question of one generation, this will be the question of ours.
September 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pmI was at Messiah. I found out when they made an announcement in chapel. I think it was a Tuesday, right? And I think it was Dennis Hollinger that made the announcement, but I’m not sure of that.
In my class with “Jake” Jacobsen, we just watched the news on the big screen… in that room where we used to watch movies before new theater was built.
I had been on a “break” with my girlfriend of the time (she is now Messiah’s esteemed Local Community Service Director). We decided to take a break from the break to deal with it. But eventually broke up anyway within a couple weeks. It’s just interesting that it would affect our dating life even though we didn’t know of anybody directly affected.
I was also taking a class on 1 & 2 Kings with Gordon Brubacher. I think it was the reflections we did in that course about power and violence during the time of 9/11 that solidified my commitment to pursuing social justice and critically engaging the news of the day.
October 13th, 2007 at 2:42 pm