Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Where Were You When The World Stopped Turnin'...



Back on September 11, 2001 I was workin' for an ophthalmologist. Tuesday was his surgery day so it was just me and his assistant in the office.


I was at my desk doin' some billin' and she was next to me on the phone talkin' to her mama. As I looked out into the waitin' room, I saw an image on the television. As my brain was tryin' to comprehend what I was seein', I heard her say, "A plane crashed into the World Trade Center?!" Just as she spoke those words, I then saw the image of another plane crashin' into the other tower. At the exact moment, we both turned (as if in slow motion) and looked at each other. We were speechless but our expressions spoke louder than any words.




I immediately called my hubs. I needed to hear his voice. That was my only focus at that moment. I was so relieved when I spoke to him.





Then I remember runnin' outside and lookin' up into the beautiful blue sky. What was I lookin' for? Actually it was what I was hopin' NOT to see. That's because we were not far from Griffiss Air Force Base.



As I sat and watched all the news footage, I cried. I still do. The media never showed some of the graphic footage I have seen.


I still cry for the folks trapped inside those towers with no way out.


I still cry for the brave New York police and fire rescue workers who ran into the burnin' towers not knowin' what had happened but knew they had to help thousands inside.



I still cry for the folks who stood on the ledge of those towers and made the decision to jump to their death. The sounds of their bodies hittin' the ground below still haunts me to this day.



I still cry for the folks on those planes, knowin' it would be their last day here on earth.



I still cry because we were targeted because we are Americans. It didn't matter our color, ethnicity, race or religion. I still cry because it could have been any one of us.



The only time I get angry is when I hear folks make comments like, "I'm so tired of hearing about Sept. 11th!" or "Its time to get over September 11th!"



Two of these four horrific tragedies happened in MY state, to MY fellow New Yorkers and to MY fellow Americans. I could never forget and I never will.






ONE
By: Cheryl Sawyer



As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building,
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heros
We become one people.

We are
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people

We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America.

5 comments:

tj said...

...I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was working as a secretary and was getting ready for work that morning and one of the last things I did is make our bed before I leave. I had the television on as I was doing so and I was listening to the Today Show when all of a sudden Katie & Matt cut in about the World Trade Center getting hit by a plane. And as they were trying to make sense of what just happened moments later the second plane hit...I remember the news anchors went silent. I stopped and stood within inches of the television, I couldn't believe my eyes... To this day I have a large book called "Portraits 9/11/2001" on my coffee table and it has photos and small bios of the victims of that dreadful day...I will never forget. Never.

...God bless you Karin and God bless America...

...Blessings...

Kathy said...

I was working at a power plant as office manager. One of our shiftworkers (who was off work) called in to ask a payroll question and he asked if we were watching the news. Of course we were not and he told me what had happened. I immediately called the plant manager and the admin office came to a standstill -- we were all in the conference room watching the news on the big screen. It was devastating to say the least. Such a tragedy to happen to our country.

It's funny how we remember exactly where we were when events in history happen. I remember being in elementary when JFK was shot; science when the first man landed on the moon, the evening my boss and I were driving back from meetings in Houston and the news said President Bush (the first one) delared "the U.S. was at war". the Sun morning I was sewing when the shuttle exploded over Texas, and on and on.....

My heart certainly goes out to the 911 victims and families as they have to relive this again tomorrow and for the rest of their lives.

Doreen Frost said...

I too remember this as if it was yesterday. I was working in a group home for disabled adults and I was actually driving back from the office and heard it on the radio...when I arrived back at the home one of my coworkers had the TV on and when I walked in she said "We are under attack"...we both just sat and stared without saying a word for the longest time...glued to the television..then I rushed home in a panic..wanting to get my children home with me...that day changed all our lives forever.

Doreen

Laura said...

I was at the lab with the guys in the lunch room watching it on t.v. we all were glued to the screen and didn't know what to think .I was thinking this couldn't be for real. I have a cousin who works in banking and she was on the phone with someone in one the buildings when it happened she said all she heard was screaming and the phone went dead .To this day it brings chills. I agree with you Karin we should never forget! The families of all those poor souls have to live with it everyday . Offer your tears and prayers to them always .

Thanks for the birthday wish for Joseph !!

Cookie said...

I was getting ready for work and just about ready to leave the house. The news anchor thought it was a horrible accident that had just happened when the first plane struck and minutes later, we knew we were under attack when the 2nd plane hit.
When I got into the office, everyone was in a panic, and rightly so. We tried to pick something up on the television that was in the office, but the reception was so terrible, we returned to our radios to grasp the horror of it all. It was a numb day, filled with growing horrors. Our office is close to the airport and we have planes flying overhead all day long - of course, the only thing everyone could think of was their loved ones and their children!

My stomach still gets tied in knots just remembering that horrible day. I just wish the govt would come clean about the pentagon. There is no way that could have been another jet... a missle - yes, but a jet ? no way!

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