I woke a few minutes after 8:45 on 9-11-01, unusually early for me, but I was wide awake. Remembering that the night before sound had gone out on my favorite news channel, I picked up the remote beside my bed and turned the TV on.
Why were they showing “King Kong” first thing in the morning? The sound was still out. On the screen was a tall building with smoke rising from it, then a plane crashing into the damaged building. I waited for the ape to appear on top of the building. When he didn’t, I sat up and flipped to a channel with sound. Regular programming was running, so I was relieved what I was seeing was probably not live. Still I couldn’t go back to sleep. Something didn’t feel right. I surfed channels until I found one describing what I had seen, the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. Of course, following that came news of the Pentagon attack and later crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
I am a late sleeper and still wonder why I woke early that day and why on a day the sound was out on the only channel running the attack live. Coincidence? Probably, but it made a very unsettling day even more surreal. It still seems surreal.
A N H I N G A 
I was at the dentist when some crazy man (so we thought) came running in asking if they had a television because he’d heard someone had flown a plane into one of the Twin Towers.
We’re having dinner tonight at a diner near where Flight 93 went down. I hadn’t thought of that until I read this. In fact, I’d forgotten what day it is…
I can only imagine how you felt when it hit you were you were.
I still have never seen more than just a few minutes of footage. I was starting a new job that day. So I got up early to get ready for work and saw it on GMA. And I had to go off to work not knowing anything about what was going on, other than that the two towers had been hit.
I was teaching. No TVs. No radios. No cell signal to check in with my kids. And it was a staff development day so I had to stay at work until 7:30 that night (west cost time).
I think that in a way, I still have not “processed” what happened. I feel like I missed it all.
You must feel part of history was stolen from you. I guess I didn’t realize school went on that day as usual.
It was a bad day. I had six periods of 7th graders crying and screaming. They knew more than the staff knew. They had cell phones and were in touch with the outside world. The staff was under orders from the district superintendent not to watch it or listen to it on school premises and we were not to discuss it with the students!
I heard it on the radio, it was being reported on the station I’d set to wake me up.
The crash into the building had already happened, the other part was still happening.
My best friend from elementary school had recently moved back to my town, and though we’d grown apart, I called her. I don’t know why, somehow she was the one I wanted to call.
The disconnect between us at that horrible moment forecasted a disconnect that would last a long time. But it might not have been her fault-
everything seemed totally cattywampus and unreal for a long time after that morning.
I think it meant something that it was she you wanted to call at that moment. I’m sorry she didn’t realize the importance of that.
I was married to an airline pilot who had come home the night before.
We were on our deck (in Crownsville, Maryland) having breakfast.
A neighbor came running across our yard and hugged my husband saying “Oh my God, I’m so glad to see you!” When we both looked confused at this unusual gesture, she said “Oh, you haven’t seen the television yet , have you?”
After that, it was a big emotional blur.
So great to hear from you, Lea. What a 9-11 story you have to tell. I can only imagine the thoughts going through your head when the neighbor ran over and the enormity of it all hit you.
Hope you check in again. Missed you.
I was at work. We had a tv we used for running promotions. We turned it on when a customer asked us too. People wandered in who hadn’t heard yet and pretty soon we had about 30 people standing around watching this tv. It was up High so everyone could see. There were a lot of gasps and ‘Oh my god” as newcomers came in to see what was going on and why there was such a huge crowd. Pretty soon there was no one left in the mall. Stores started closing down. Corporate called and told us to close down for the day once the last customer left. We closed down the tills but didn’t lock the doors for two more hours. We waited until the last person wanted to leave on there own. We all stood there, just watching the coverage.
What a story! I love that you waited to close until the last person left. That was the kind of day it was. Thanks for stopping by, Raolin.
I was in paltka florida roofing a shopping center.that morning i decided to get a hair cut down below.as i was watching the tv their it was for all to see.
The whole town went quite no work no driving just starring at the tv.the rest of the day my whole crew just sat on the roof and watched the news.no work got finished that day,it was a sad day that we will never forget.god bless america
I don’t remember you telling me that. It creates quite a picture.
Something we’ll never forget, I’m in Australia, but every time I read an article or see photos of this I get goosebumps, just as I have now. Will remain with us for ever.
I sometimes forget this was a world tragedy and there was an outpouring of support for the U.S. after 9-11. It means more than you know to us. Thank you.
I enjoyed your paintings and animal drawings so much. I’ll check back to see what you add next. Thanks for stopping by.