Can't believe it's been 7 years...

[LenaGardner]

since Sept. 11, 2001. :( I hope that if you were personally affected by the terrorist attacks in any way that you have a peaceful day. It really seems like it happened just yesterday. I wasn't personally affected and it still makes me sad to remember, I can't imagine what others go through. And I wonder...the women who were pregnant and the babies never got to meet their fathers...those kids have probably just started first grade....just makes me want to hug on my babies.

[**Holly**]

Wow that is crazy....it does feel like just yesterday....

[Brooke W]

Thank god I wasn't personally affected. But I remember it clear as day. My one friend from New Jersey called me in the morning, very shaken, esp since her husband worked those huge cranes, though not near there at the time.
It still shakes me to the core.
One of my very favorite songs by Bruce Springsteen is his tribute to the firemen, called Into the Fire. Makes me cry every time.

[mrsmbm]

I can't believe it's been seven years. Wow.

[wildblueeyez]

I can still see the plane flying into the building as I did that morning. My DD was 4 and kept putting it back on the TV. she stood glued to the TV. My heart breaks just thinking of all the people affected that day as well as the Oklahoma bombing.

[psalm149]

Wow. That is hard to believe. I'll never be able to get those images out of my mind.

[lizzyfizzy]

seems unreal that it was 7 years ago. i remember exactly where i was when it happened. in my car on the way to work. the whole day at work was eerie. thoughts and prayers to anyone who lost a loved one on that day!

[sugarink]

Oh, I will forever remember this day. I had a nightmare about 2 weeks before 9/11 and dreamt that two huge missiles flew out of nowhere and hit a tall building. Then the morning that I woke up and saw it on the news, had me balling my eyes out. It was pretty freaky to have dreamt something like that and then seeing it become a reality. I still grieve for the families and children who suffered a loss because of this tragedy. Praying for those who are still coping and recovering from this tragic day . :wub:

Oh, and I feel bad for my DH, since 9/11 is also his birthday :(

[ZaCola3]

It is unbelievable that it has been that long-I always take time out of this day to sit down with my kids and talk about the specifics of this day and the emergency responders who lost their lives.
I'm proud to be an American every day, but there are special days that make me extra proud and today is one of them.

[FlirtatiousBrat]

I'm proud to be an American every day, but there are special days that make me extra proud and today is one of them.

My feelings exactly. I love my country, but today...I feel compassion for it in more ways than I think i ever could.

I hope everybody that was personally affected by this day can have a calm peaceful day. Thoughts and memories will never be forgotten

[LeeAndra]

I was not personally affected, but Jeff briefly worked in the North Tower in '99 so it was difficult for him to realize his former coworkers and former company was so tragically affected.

[meganmecrazy]

I too have to count the years to make sure it was actually that long ago because it does seem like it happened just yesterday. :( I will never forget any part of it and I think and cry about it a lot.

I was at work (in the production/print room that had a TV) and we saw it as soon as it hit the news. I remember that sick feeling in my stomach knowing that my husband was driving (for his job as a truck driver) somewhere in New York but didn't know exactly where or if he had already been there or what and I tried to call him over and over and he wouldn't not answer.

Work made the announcement for us to all go home right after the crash in Pennsylvania. My works location wasn't far from that area where that plane crashed and at some point before it's crash it actually flew over our building - scarey. On top of that, our work building was RIGHT near the Pittsburgh Airport so we had planes flying so close to our buildings constantly and it was just too dangerous for us all to stay there with all the unknowings of what would happen that day.

It was hard to go home to an empty home knowing my husband was who-knows-where. So I went to an aunts apartment (next door to our apartment at the time).

What a horrible day that was. I never felt so scared, sick, etc. in my life.

I pray so hard for those who have lost loved ones or anyone special from that day. :(

[junebug]

i wasn't personally affected either. my DH was stationed in Korea when it happened. He had just called me that morning and after we hung up i turned on the tv and saw it unfolding. it was so surreal. i was very upset over it. my mom called me from work and had to calm me down. having a husband in the military in any situation like that is scary, cause you know we wouldn't sit back and let that happen. and we didnt. i really feel for the families who lost a loved one. it was horrible. i'm proud of the passengers that tried to fight back on that downed plane. they were extrememly brave.

[mommy2aria06]

Every year about this time on this day I have a vivid memory of how people here, around the Pentagon and DC, reacted and how the fear was almost palpable.

I was in sociology class in college. My school is relatively close to the Pentagon and we were told that there was a plane coming up the Potomac and we had to evacuate immediately. I remember walking into class and someone mentioning that a plane had crashed into the world trade center but we thought it was just a small plane on accident- I remember turning to my friend next to me and saying "things are never going to be the same"- I had to idea how right that statement was.

As we were leaving the professor said that if it was terrorists the people responsible would claim responsibility fast.

When I got on the highway it was extremely crowded as people tried to get out of DC. My father works at Dulles Airport (where one of the planes left from) and I was trying to call him to make sure that he was ok but so many people were using cell phones I couldn't get through. A lot of people in my county work in DC and for the Pentagon and some of the people in that sociology class were volunteer firefighters that were dispatched to the fire at the Pentagon.

[nikkiARNGwife]

While we weren't personally affected on that day, DH and I were just discussing the other night how 9/11 certainly changed our lives forever. Before 9/11 deployment wasn't even a word most of us were familiar with kwim?

[ColleenSwerb]

I never know what to say today. I'm always a jumbled mess remembering that day. I was a freshman in college and had only been at school for maybe 2.5 weeks at that point. My dad was still working in the city 5 days a week. For some reason, he chose to work from home that day. If he had been in the city he would've been walking past the towers to his building when the first one collapsed, and he might've died. I cried for hours until I finally got in touch with my family and found out everyone was ok.

My heart breaks all over again, every year, on this day. For the families who lost loved ones, children who lost parents, emergency rescue teams that put their lives on the line without a seconds hesitation.

I am never more proud to be an American than I am on this day.

Please remember to say a pray for those serving in our military, who continue to protect our freedoms and lives from the evils that lurk in this world.

[Lukasmummy]

I was at work and Mark was on holiday in Spain, I knew nothing about it until I came home. I remember calling him and not caring about the phone bill I was running up, we were on the phone for over an hour we were worried he wouldn't be able to get home because they were cancelling so many flights. I will never forget the look on Nan's face when I walked in that night she has watched it as it happened on the news and couldn't believe that I knew nothing about it. We weren't personally affected but it's a huge reminder that life is just too short and you never know whats going to happen from one minute to the next. ((((hugs)))) to everyone who needs them today, i'm sure there are a lot of people directly affected or not needing one. Hugs Crystal xx

[Emmy]

I wasn't really personally affected but the day impacted me very much. My dh was traveling that morning and was on a flight from St. Louis to LAX. His flight got delayed because of the first attack but they put the airport on media blackout so that no would know what was going on (to avoid panic). I was pregnant with baby #2 and with my 14 month old toddler hanging on my leg, talking on the phone to him (him on a cell) trying to explain the attacks while he was standing in the aisle of his plane. It was so unthinkable he almost didn't believe me and thought I was confused. I had the tv on and saw the 2nd tower hit while we were talking and I made him promise to get off the plane *no matter what*. He thought I was insane because he HAD to go on that trip...it was really hard for him to understand what was going on until he made it away from the airport and saw the news coverage himself.

There were additional hijackers - that never made it on their intended flight - arrested at the airport he was at that morning. I am continually grateful that flights were stopped as soon as they were and he didn't fly out that day. My dad ended up going down to St Louis to pick him up and bring him home.

[alansrock]

I remember watching this on TV in disbelief of how cruel people can be. Such a sad day in American History. NEVER FORGET!

[Chels85]

wasn't personally affected, but i'll never forget.

[Jennifer]

I wasn't personally affected either, but it is certainly a day I will never forget. I was teaching Kindergarten at the time and so many parents were coming to school to pull their kids out. There were few students left by the end of the day. Every year, while I was teaching, I would read a childrens' book about the day to my class and we'd talk about it...I miss that chance to discuss it this year and find it hard to believe that my own children hadn't even been born. It does seem like it was only yesterday.

I will say extra prayers today for all of the loved ones that were affected on that tragic and terrible day.

[Kat Stokes]

I wasn't personally affected either. My heart just breaks for all of the families who lost someone or had a family member injured. It's so hard to think that something like this happened in on our soil. It seems like just a bad nightmare at times but at others it is so very real! DH had a few friends that went from here to help in the recovery efforts and a few of them have never really been he same since they came back. It was horrific for them!

I just thank God every day that we have all of these wonderful men and women in the Armed Forces trying to help protect our Country!

[iJenny]

Seven years. Thats incredible. I was pregnant with Cameron when 9/11 happened. I'll never forget that morning or the days and weeks after it. I remember being so scared that I was bringing a child into this radically different world than the one I had anticipated raising him in.

I had a small talk with Cameron this morning about 9/11 on the way to school. I don't think anyone has ever really "told" him about it before (he's only 6 1/2). He's a very sensitive, compassionate, empathetic boy and I knew it would make him sad, but I also knew he could handle knowing what happened. I explained it pretty much that "on this day seven years ago when mommy was pregnant with you, some very bad men who hated America stole four airplanes and crashed them into buildings (and I explained about the brave people on the flight that crashed in the field). And a lot of people died that day and that is why we have our brave soldiers fighting in a war to protect us from something like that happening ever again."

He just listened somberly and then said, "thats really sad, mama. I'm going to pray for those bad men and all those people that died". **sniff**

My sweet boy...

[kscwgirl]

Today always makes me so sad. I was not personally affected, but my heart just breaks for everyone that was. I tried explaining things to Abby this morning on the way to daycare, but she doesn't really get it yet.

[maryinaz]

The day before Sept. 11 - Sept. 10, my BIL's brother committed suicide. Then the next day this all happened. A week later my aunt/godmother died unexpectedly. So this time of year is very sad for many reasons.

I actually found out about the first plane on a 2Peas board. I don't watch TV or listen to radio in the morning, so I didn't know what had happened. I turned on the TV and called my husband and watched while the 2nd plane hit while I was on the phone with him. We both couldn't believe it.

In 2003 I went to Ground Zero...it was still so incredibly sad and emotional standing there where it happened.

My youngest sons' school has a 9/11 ceremony every year where they sing some patriotic songs and remember the day.

[crystalbella77]

This is an unforgettable day. It was so sad and scary.....I will never be able to get rid of those feelings completely.

I was lucky enough to be blessed with a nephew on Sept. 11, 2002 though. So I have thoughts of him to help with the horrible vision of what happened. :)

[HeatherKS]

I'm amazed that it has been 7 years also. We found out about a week after 9/11 that we were pregnant with our first child. We'd been trying for a while by that point and I remember hearing people on TV talk about being scared to bring a baby into the world with as crazy as it was at that point. I was at the opposite end of that spectrum I guess because I thought how wonderful it was to see the hope that a new life would bring even in a world full of craziness, kwim?

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected personally by the tragedy of 9/11. *hugs*

[Paula]

I was personally affected. A friend of mine from college was killed in the Pentagon and two of my friends were on the plane that hit the north tower. I will never forget where I was that day and how I felt and still feel. It makes me numb to think about it.

[switchwiz]

Yes, I was remembering the tragedy on my way to work and how I still want to cry every time I think about it! My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families personally affected and hope nothing like this ever happens again! PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN today and every day!

[rochelle789]

I wasn't personally affected either, but I'll always remember where I was on that day. I had just started graduate school and was in the car when DH (not yet my DH at the time) and I heard about it on the radio. We thought it was a joke because it was just so over the top. It was just horrible.

I remember a few years ago, I believe it was Ann Curry, did a story on the 9/11 babies - the ones who never met their fathers because of 9/11. Thinking of them today makes me sad.

[Shawna]

I wasn't personally affected but even after 7 years I can still remember that morning like it was just yesterday. It was exactly 3 months and 1 day before I had Kaylie and at the time I was substitute teaching but I hadn't been called in so I was staying home that day. Rob was up getting ready for work since he had to be in at 10am so I was up with him. I turned on the TV and was flipping channels and every single one was reporting the same thing, that a plane had hit one of the WTC buildings. I remember yelling for Rob to come in there and watch what was happening. We sat there in complete and utter shock as they showed the first plane and then another hit and then awhile later when the buildings collapsed. After he left work I sat there the entire day watching the coverage as more and more information was coming out (the Pentagon, the PA flight and info on the terrorists) and just cried for all the innocent lives lost. Especially for all the pregnant women who lost their husbands that day, knowing those babies would never get to meet their daddies and that those families lives were forever changed. I remember lots of people calling to check on me that day, making sure I was okay. It just makes me so incredibly sad knowing those babies are probably now in first grade just like Kaylie and how their little lives are so much different than they should have been...

[scarletsierra]

That day changed everything for me. Completely and profoundly put a new perspective on my life and my beliefs. And I will never, ever forget.

[Amy Carey]

Oh Paula..sending a big hug your way today.. I can't even imagine living through that!

I was cleaning house, getting ready for a friend to come for lunch and a friend called me and told me to turn the TV on and I saw the 2nd plane hit. Later that day when we were out in town, I couldn't help but keep examining the sky...looking for planes. We have a prominent air force base here with 4 squadrons of F-15Es and I felt like we were vulnerable to attack because of that. Thankfully my DH never has to deploy because he is civillian, but he has worked on every one of those planes and worked harder than I have ever seen him in the weeks following 9/11...furiously repairing engines and sending those planes back out...to patrol our country and keep us safe and then eventually for their tours of duty overseas. I have many military friends, I grew up military, my dad was a Vietnam vet and patriotism has always been deeply rooted in my life but never more so than on that day and every anniversary since.

[Traci Reed]

dangit! now I'm crying. I was still in school when this happened (a senior in HS) and I remember watching it on TV before I went to school, listening to it on the radio on the way and then all of the teachers that day had the TVs on in the rooms and we just watched the coverage in every class all day. I wasn't personally affected but it definitely changed my outlook and idealism. I graduated hs, got married, had kids and have almost finished college and the war still isn't over. My kids have never known a time of peace, have never not had to pray for their uncle in Afghanistan and will never know the innocence of living in a world where terrorism doesn't exist (at least to them).

Even the little things that they'll never get to do because of 9/11 astounds me...things as simple as seeing their loved ones off AT the terminal at the airport instead of having to stay before security. The little things that used to be so fun when I was little..

I will be thinking about everyone affected and hugging my loved ones a little tighter today.

[DawnMarch]

I spent the morning watching the Discovery special on what happened inside the towers on 9/11 (it's on youtube if anyone wants to see it). Such amazing heroism displayed by so many.

Now I feel depressed, but honestly, I think it's important not to let that pain and raw emotion fade into the past. It's only been 7 years, but already it's sometimes hard to believe that it actually happened. So, I re-watch the footage every year. I won't forget because I will not let myself forget -- the people who died that day deserve at least that.

[hhleung]

I worked about 10 blocks north of the WTC at the time so this day always brings back SO many memories for me.....the gaping, smoke-filled holes in the towers, walking down the stairs in our building to evacuate (since our buillding was fairly tall, too, we had no clue if we might be a target, too), the commotion in the streets, seeing the towers collapse, staying at my supervisor's apt for several hours (because the subways had all been stopped), watching the news that night and seeing the dust and debri-filled streets of downtown Manhattan look like they were in a war zone, going back to work after a week (we weren't allowed back in our building until then) and seeing from a distance the rubble that was more than several stories high....these are things I'll never forget.)

I was blessed enough not to have lost any friends or relatives but my supervisor at the time lost her best friend and a family from church lost their sister/aunt.

I did a layout for the ADSR3 race on this day. Unfortunately, I don't have the journaling with me right now so I can't post it.

http://www.ndisb.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=4826

Helen

[scrapmonkey]

I do remember the day vividly, but the rawness of it has faded a bit. My parents' close friend lost his brother, who worked in one of the towers. I do not know of anyone else who was lost that day, but there were several days when they were still assessing who was lost in the towers that there were some concerns that I may have lost a college/grad school classmate or two, especially one friend with whom I had lost touch with who had last worked with one of the banks housed in that building. But his name never appeared on the lost ones list at my university's website.
I was living in Houston at the time, and I remember going into work early that day and I had been listening to music on the way in - nothing had been announced yet on the radio, because that was when it was thought to be a small plane accidentally crashing. When I got into work there were a couple of people there. When someone called about what happened a couple of us went into the conference room where the TV was and finally got a signal to a local station. That was when the second plane hit. I called my husband at work - I told him what happened and he was like, you are joking, right? I remember none of us got much work done that day, all of us milling between our workstations and the conference room, but I didn't want to go home because I knew that I would just keep seeing that image over and over and over again. My DH had just been to the top of the towers only 2 months before then, just before we got married (we got married in Connecticut). He was in utter shock for days and watched nothing but news for at least 5 days after. One of my coworkers in Dallas had a brother in NYC who worked in one of the buildings nearby - he went to the roof after the first attack and got pictures of the second attack before he was evacuated. I blogged more about the experience 2 years ago (http://scrappingmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/09/911-5th-anniversary.html).
A lot of people don't realize that the 9/11 attacks were not the first attack on the WTC - my parents were only a few blocks away from the WTC when it was bombed in 1993. If we had only learned the right lessons about our vulnerability from that attack, just maybe 9/11 wouldn't have happened.
Prayers and hugs go out to those who had loved ones or friends lost in those attacks (especially you, Paula)..

[crecia27]

:( I never even thought about children who never met their fathers. I was pregnant at the time even, we had our first prenantal class that night. It does seem like just yesterday. My husband said this morning "so, its been what 4 years?" HELLO, how old is your child? SO much has changed in the world since then!