I was going to write a chatty post today but I find I am overwhelmed by the enormity of 9/11 and what happened 25 years ago today. I’ve been reading stories and crying. When Don and I realized it would be the 25th anniversary of 9/11 today, we said “Of course.” Because we moved from San Diego to NY at the beginning of July in 2001. We moved to a little rental cottage in Westchester County, just north of Manhattan. The Hudson River was maybe a half mile from our home.
On that particular morning, I was alone with the dogs because Don was in Canada rehearsing a play. As everyone who was in the area always says, it was a spectacularly beautiful morning. I remember standing in the yard with the dogs marveling at the clear blue skies.
When I saw the first few reports of a plane involved in an accident at the World Trade Center, I envisioned a small plane, maybe a single engine aircraft. That was the picture that appeared in my mind. I turned on the television and very quickly learned that it was another thing entirely. And I sat there for hours, shocked, unbelieving, stunned – I, like millions, saw it all unfold on my television set.
I tried to call Don, but connections weren’t going through. He learned of it in a coffee shop and raced back to his apartment to call me. He couldn’t get through. We finally got a call through just before the second plane crashed into the other tower and watched it unfold on our respective television screens.
Later, I learned that one of those planes – maybe both? – flew into NYC after flying down the Hudson River, using it as their guide. Right by my house.
It was eerily quiet all day long. I saw a neighbor and we silently acknowledged each other, both of us too emotional to say anything. In the afternoon, I was outside with the dogs and I heard the loud sound of a plane’s engine flying down the Hudson River. Since all flights had been grounded, I knew it had to be a military plane, most likely from the National Guard base. I couldn’t see the plane, but the noise was very loud.
I was supposed to go see Urinetown on Broadway that night. My friend was the director. Needless to say, that didn’t happen.
One more memory: about 2 weeks later, I went into the city to teach my first class at the American Academy of Dramatic Art. As I emerged from the train into Grand Central Station, I saw thousands of notices pinned to boards and to poles. Inside and outside, as well. Each notice had a picture and a message that included the words “Have you seen?…” Thousands of them. By this point, we knew that there were no more survivors. I stood there reading them, walking from one posting place to another, sobbing the entire time. The heartbreak, the loss, the hope denied. It was all there. They remained there for a long time.
May we never forget.
And may we stop annihilating innocent victims of useless and senseless wars, as well as supporting those who are committing genocide. No more.
Stay safe.
thank you, claudia, for sharing some of your experiences and memories of that horrible day. am sure it was very scary and overwhelmingly sad to be in and so close to new york city back then, and for you and don to have not been able to immediately talk with each other. i’ve been to nyc a couple times since then, went to “ground zero” and the memorial and it was incredibly heartbreaking.
i was at work that day, helping someone who was having a mental health crisis. she had her television on; i asked to turn it off it or at least mute the volume. she chose to turn off the sound, and from where i sat, i could see the tv, those awful images of the first plane.
i helped the woman as needed and when other assistance arrived, i returned to my job site, told my boss, turned on the tv, learned about the second plane and called my parents and sister. terrified by all the bad things, with extra fear because my brother did a lot of flying for his job back then and we couldn’t get ahold of him for a few hours. thanking God now, twenty-five years later and always for my family’s safety.
i believe (among other things) in the right and too-often need for self-defense, but we, all people, must learn from history, learn how to live together, find peace in ourselves and with others, build bridges, tame the egos-in-power and not create wars and reasons/excuses to escalate things! as you said, claudia, we must never forget!
may God bless us all and help us to heal this broken world.
sending hugs (if okay).
everybody, stay safe in every way.
kathy
Thank you, Kathy.
Stay safe.
I’m out of the country at the moment but wanted to acknowledge quickly the 25th anniversary and honor the memory of all we lost. I remember getting ready to go to work but saw on the morning news what was unfolding. A co-worker on my office’s phone tree got to me to tell to stay home. My husband took the ferry to work as usual but got the call before the ferry landed and he stayed on to return home. Our very little ones were in school and we went over there together to hug them tightly but made the decision to keep them there so there was a semblance of normality for them. The school had and still has a good and reliable safety plan.
The teacher for the older daughter had a discussion with the class about what happened. The younger one was only a kindergartener and the teacher opted to have the parents choose what to tell their young one. As adults, my daughters now understand the enormity of 9/11 that they couldn’t fathom in 2001.
Hang on, Claudia. I’m inspired by how big-hearted you are.
Oh, thank you, Wendy.
I hope you’re having a good time traveling.
Stay safe.
Those memories that we share….those I saw on tv coverage, and the individual ones that are personal, are forever etched in our hearts and minds.
May we honor those that lost their lives, and all of the first responders, and never forget!
Never forget.
Thank you, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
Such a terrible day. Being in Oregon it was much earlier in the morning for me. I had just started getting ready for work when I heard the news on the radio. I quickly turned on my television … just in time to see the second tower get hit. I did go to work that day, but we were all glued to our computer screens watching everything unfold. I still can’t listen to Alan Jackson’s song, “Where were you …” without getting a huge lump in my throat. It must have especially scary having Don so far away.
Thank you, Debbie.
Stay safe.
Such a horrible, tragic day in our country. I cry for all the people and also all the dogs that played such a big part of finding people. Of course most of them are not with us today. I don’t have much more to say…..just sad.
Thank you, Deb.
Stay safe.