I do remember almost everything about September 11, 2001. I was at home getting ready for work. I vividly remember the second plane crashing into the tower. They replayed it over and over again.
Gary and I lived in a tiny little house in Waco. I loved that house. It was about 1250 square feet. It had a 1 car garage, 3 bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths. It was a perfect house with a big, pretty backyard for us newlyweds. We got married September 12, 2000. One year almost to the day of the 9/11 chaos.
Gary was laying in our king size bed waking up. That king size bed took up the whole room. It was hysterical. We couldn't even get around the room, but we had a gigantic bed and a TV on a dresser. The 1/2 bath was 'my' bathroom. I curled my hair and put my makeup on in there every morning. I would shower in the little, but bigger full bathroom, and then grab my coffee and make my way to my bathroom. Every morning I would watch the CBS Early Show. I loved it. I would get my news while I was getting dressed, every day.
I was the Director of Sales for a hotel in Waco. I loved that job. It was an amazing job. Sometimes I wish I still had that job. I loved all my coworkers. I loved working in the hotel industry. I loved showing people the hotel property. I loved booking meetings in our meeting space. It was a fun time in my life. I was newly married and it was a great paying job for me at the time.
I stayed at home that morning a little longer than normal. After the shock wore of I headed to the office around 10am. Gary worked from home. He cancelled all his appointments and sat glued to the couch all day long. I remember driving to the hotel in shock. I remember sitting in the lobby, watching the non-stop news with all the other managers. I remember being scared to death.
I remember finally getting in touch with my parents. The cell phone coverage was all jacked up. I couldn't call out, all circuits were busy. My parents were in a federal building in Oklahoma City. They basically got kicked out of the building, as the whole nation shut it's doors that day.
My best friend was with her husband in Las Vegas. They couldn't get home...they stayed in Vegas for 3 extra days. I called her like crazy and couldn't get in touch with her, but finally I talked to her. She assured me they were fine. I remember being scared. So scared.
I remember thinking how I'd remember my 1 year wedding anniversary forever. How could we celebrate the next day when so many people were suffering or injured or dead?
I thought of one of my life long friends...she lived and worked in DC. I prayed for her, hoping someone would send me word that she was OK. And she was. As OK as she could be. As OK as we all could be.
Where were you?
Already at work...hearing the information trickle down. Watching on the evidence room TV. Trying to call my friend in NY and not being able to get in touch with her. Not a day I will forget.
ReplyDeleteI was a senior in high school sitting in second period economics when the principal came over the loud speaker and told the school to turn on the tv's. I just remember the whole class sitting there in shock...not really understanding the magnitude of what was happening. I will also never forget the look on our teachers face.
ReplyDeleteDriving to my first class my freshman year of college. Crazy! I'll never forget it. Ha... at that time I was working for a small company called The Fire Store.Com and after that day they have boomed in business.
ReplyDeleteNever, never will I forget.
I remember that day vividly too. I remember being at work that day and accomplishing nothing because we were in the break room watching the tv. It felt like watching something happening in another country, in another world.
ReplyDeleteI was getting ready for class at A&M. I watched live as the 2nd plane hit and the towers fell. I didn't really comprehend the whole experience. I finally made my way to the business school and they had the news on all the tvs in the halls of the Wehner building. Classes were finally canceled and we all headed home. I remember talking to one of my friends specifically. I think he really understood what I didn't at the time. The whole country's reaction was like A&M's reaction when Bonfire fell, or at least it seemed like that to me.
ReplyDeleteGod bless the USA...and the Aggies :)
Its interesting to hear everyone Else's memories of 911. Its such a heart wrenching, memory for us all.
ReplyDeleteI was at college, my first semester. My professor came in and told us to go home. To watch the news and be with family. That we were being attacked by terrorists. It was insane to me. Unheard of. I was so young and naive. I went to my boyfriends work and he was sent home as well. (This is now my husband). We spent the day watching TV with family in disbelief. Its amazing to me still how someone foreign or American can disregard human life so easily. Can hurt so many so easily. It still to this day baffles me.