It's 9/12 in Okinawa now. But still 9/11 in the states - most importantly in NY and VA. I recalled my experience on 9/11 with my mother on the phone yesterday and she recalled hers. My folks live in NJ, my father works in NYC.
Seven years ago (wow... seven years) I was 9 months pregnant, living in Escondido, bummed I'd be missing my brother's wedding in NJ because I couldn't fly out for it, and waking up and making breakfast. I turned on the television and for some weird reason it was on Univision, the Spanish channel. So when it came on, I saw the image of a tower on fire - but with Spanish words & subtitles going I thought it was a new movie promo.... sadly, that was not the case.
As I changed the channel and it started to register, my phone rang. It was my mom's best friend calling from Calabasas, CA. "Your mom & dad are fine - but you won't be able to get through on the phone for a while most likely..." and it all started to register as I watched plane #2 go into the second tower live on TV. I'll never forget that moment. Neither will my poor father, who watched it from his workplace window across town in NYC.
I'm thankful that those of the people I know in my home state and in the DC area (my brother-in-law had a meeting at the Pentagon that day) are all well. There are stories, but they have happy endings. Many don't. Nobody can forget that day - that day where we all gathered around our televisions with tears in our eyes with the realization that things would never be the same. Certainly for our military family. And for my then unborn baby.
A lot of memorials and truces are called in the US today, including a day off of campaigning for our Presidential candidates. As my friend Nick aptly put it, "Some might see these yearly memorials as sappy. I sure hope not. I, for one, am still angry. It still pains me. I truly hope that we never forget. I know I never will. "
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Last year, I helped a dojo mate and his wife pack up their house for moving to Washington. Next week, my best friend, since the age of fourteen, and his wife and kids are moving to Cape Cod. It seems all my best and closest friends are or will be "gone." Happily though, not out of the picture. Thank goodness for email, IM, Skype, and VOIP.
I'm angry that my place of work did not have any formal rememberance; not even a general email. I talked with a few co-workers and it seemed to me like many of them were more interested in football season.
I remember the day it happened, and as chief audio-visual technician, I powered up the satellite dish and big screen and kept it on all day. Work slowed, people skipped lunch, and just watched the events unfold.
Sad to say, but the people I'm surrounded by seem to be numbed with this trajedy. I was so annoyed, that I couldn't write my own sensible blog. It's on my mind. When 'm collected, I'll certainly write about it.
I think for our generation it can only be compared to my parents experiences with the attack on Pearl Harbor.. they know exactly where they were and what they were doing and I know exactly where I was and what I was doing on 9/11 I cant always recall what I did the day before yesterday but I can recall every moment on 9/11
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