|
Post by stonecutter on Sept 13, 2011 9:46:38 GMT -7
...exactly where they were and what they were doing when the events of 9/11 unfolded. What's your story?
We were getting ready for work, listening to a local radio station, when they cut in midway through a song saying, "You all need to go and turn on CNN. A plane has crashed into one of the World Trade Centre towers."
We did so... It was exactly 7:02AM our time. We turned the TV on in time to see the 2nd plane hit the other tower. It took a bit to realize that they weren't showing a replay... it didn't make sense that there was this huge gaping hole in the tower with fire and smoke pouring out of hit before the plane crashed into it...
It took a minute to start listening to what the reporters were saying... then the realization that this was a SECOND plane? It was so hard to believe - staring at what was unfolding... then - the realization that this MUST have been deliberate.
We watched for only a few minutes, as we were running late already. Listened to the local news station in the car, dropped my wife off at her office, made my way to a construction meeting which lasted just over an hour. When I came out - both towers were down.
Replays of them coming down were on TVs set up in the College where I worked... people gathered around them, stunned with what they were seeing...
I was fighting with a contractor who wasn't meeting his schedules. The meeting was nasty. We weren't in good moods...
Ten years later - I'm still fighting with the same contractor to meet construction schedules. Nasty meetings... I'm not in a good mood about the current project either.
At any rate... May it never happen again. A waste of human lives like this is such a waste of human potential. Whenever I see massive losses of life like this, I feel sad for those who have been lost. I feel sad for their families. I feel sad for the sake of humanity. What did we - humanity - just lose... was there a person who was going to one day be a great leader? Was there someone who was finally going to make a medical breakthrough and cure cancer, or AIDS, or even the common cold?
These stats are from my cousin's status update on Facebook:
115 different nations... Very likely all religions were represented too... Terrorism does not discriminate.
|
|
|
Post by cherylm on Sept 14, 2011 0:43:43 GMT -7
You seem to have figured out what was happening much sooner than I did, stonecutter. My sister and I were living together at the time...she had already gotten up and was watching the morning news, and she came into my room and said "get up and look at this...some nut just flew a plane into the World Trade Center." I thought it was something like a small plane, possibly piloted by some jerky kid who'd lost control...then we saw the second plane crash. Even the TV news crew wasn't sure what had happened: their on-site reporter shouted that another plane had just crashed into a tower, and the news team in the studio didn't believe her...they kept saying "no, that was a big jet just flying by; it couldn't have hit the tower."
At that point, I found myself thinking that "some idiot must have managed to hack into air traffic control and caused a horrible malfunction." My sister said something like "yeah, maybe" and we both went on getting ready for work while listening to the news in the background. It wasn't until plane #3 hit the Pentagon that it finally settled in with me that this was a deliberate, coordinated attack. From that point on, there was such a feeling of "unreality" about the day.
At the time, I lived in the flight paths for two airports, one of which was LAX. Normally, there was a constant drone of planes going overhead. It was so, so terribly quiet on that day! At work, folks just wandered around not sure what to do with themselves. I worked at a local school district, and there were so few students in attendance...everyone tried to figure out how to deal with what the students might be feeling, while not knowing just what, exactly, THEY were feeling.
In an odd way, it reminded me of when John F. Kennedy was shot. I was one of the students back then, and it was a so utterly inconceivable an occurrence that it just felt like the world stopped.
What a horrible waste, in both of those cases..............
|
|
|
Post by ann- on Sept 14, 2011 1:32:06 GMT -7
I know my story is from the other side of the pond, and doesn't really reflect the awful situation for those of you in the States at that time. So from a bit of a different perspective.
But on that day ten years ago, it was a lovely day here too and it was just after lunch here and I was preparing to go and collect my then ten yr old son from school, I was quite excited as my husband had been away for a few weeks on a business trip in the US, and the previous night was meant to have flown to New York and stayed the night in the Marriot before flying home from JFK, and I was expecting him home later that evening.
That afternoon, I went to change and switched on the little TV in the bedroom, it was tuned to a local channel which automatically flicked into Sky for news. So I switched it on, not really looking at it but saw a plane flying into a tower, and thought it odd as they didn't usually have a film on that time of the afternoon, then heard a voice say about it being New York and one of the twin towers and suddenly realized that it wasn't a film. So rushed into the living room to switch on the main TV to see what was happening.
Within minutes, the second tower was struck and they were talking about a terrorist attack. Whilst I was collecting my thoughts, the phone rang, and it was my husband ringing to say a last minute decision had meant they hadn't travelled to New York the evening before and that they were OK where they were, had just been checking out the hotel to make their way to the airport and had seen it on the news in the lobby and that they were now going to see if they could fly another route home.
I think I phoned around all the family to let them know he was ok, a friend phoned and said she would collect my son from school for me, he was supposed to be going to play with this friend after school anyway, so she said she had watched the news, knew my hubby was in the States, and would keep him for tea, I said for her to let him know his dad was ok and had phoned, if he mentioned it. And I think myself and my two older children, who were still home from Uni, just sat glued to the TV for the remainder of the day.
Hubby arrived home about two weeks later, at that time, if you remember people were quite fearful of flying again, and he rung me as soon as he knew he had a flight which was about 11 pm, so I went to bed and the next morning I switched on the TV to make sure all was ok, it seemed to be, no news of anything happening, bit later switched on the radio and heard a plane had been diverted to Canada with a suspected bomb on board, and it was the same airline as I knew he was on. So you can imagine I thought he was never going to get home, but he did later that day, and the plane that had been diverted was going the other way.
Do feel for everyone in the US who lost loved ones in the attack, and do think about it every year at the same time.
|
|
ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
|
Post by ann58 on Sept 14, 2011 17:37:37 GMT -7
My son had just left for Ohio Universiy, as he had kind of an early class...poured my coffee....grabed the paper and settled down to watch Fox News. All of a sudden, all Hell broke lose...pictures of people running covered in dust & grime and trying to get into the stores so they could get out of the horrible event taking place...most were in shock....couldn't believe what had just happened.
Announcers were relating the events as they unfolded..voices were not normal, sort of quivering. You could tell they couldn't believe what was happening right before their very eyes. News Flash! two other large jets had crashed...one in the pentagon & the other in Pennsylvania. ALL KILLED!!
I remember praying to God....Please Bless Americia and all who perished today. SOMETHING I PERSONALLY WILL NEVER FORGET.
|
|
ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
|
Post by ann58 on Sept 14, 2011 17:41:35 GMT -7
My son had just left for Ohio Universiy, as he had kind of an early class...poured my coffee....grabed the paper and settled down to watch Fox News. All of a sudden, all Hell broke lose...pictures of people running covered in dust & grime and trying to get into the stores so they could get out of the horrible event taking place...most were in shock....couldn't believe what had just happened. Announcers were relating the events as they unfolded..voices were not normal, sort of quivering. You could tell they couldn't believe what was happening right before their very eyes. News Flash! two other large jets had crashed...one in the pentagon & the other in Pennsylvania. ALL KILLED!! I remember praying to God....Please Bless Americia and all who perished today. SOMETHING I PERSONALLY WILL NEVER FORGET. PS: one thing I forgot to tell everyone. Never think they won't be able to strike YOUR country. I think I thought we were safe because we were across the atlantic. WRONG!!
|
|
|
Post by ann- on Sept 15, 2011 7:56:48 GMT -7
My son had just left for Ohio Universiy, as he had kind of an early class...poured my coffee....grabed the paper and settled down to watch Fox News. All of a sudden, all Hell broke lose...pictures of people running covered in dust & grime and trying to get into the stores so they could get out of the horrible event taking place...most were in shock....couldn't believe what had just happened. Announcers were relating the events as they unfolded..voices were not normal, sort of quivering. You could tell they couldn't believe what was happening right before their very eyes. News Flash! two other large jets had crashed...one in the pentagon & the other in Pennsylvania. ALL KILLED!! I remember praying to God....Please Bless Americia and all who perished today. SOMETHING I PERSONALLY WILL NEVER FORGET. PS: one thing I forgot to tell everyone. Never think they won't be able to strike YOUR country. I think I thought we were safe because we were across the atlantic. WRONG!! You're right Ann, never take anything for granted. When we had the 7/7 attacks back in the London, it was my older son's then neck of the woods, though by chance he was away, actually in the US himself at the time.
|
|
ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
|
Post by ann58 on Nov 17, 2011 7:26:31 GMT -7
Just thought I would check in & see what everyone has been up to....Koi pond is bedded down for winter...leaves just about gone, trees look sooo empty. Our Fall has been pretty up & down...high temps one day; down in the 30's the next. Allen, weren't you working on getting a new leg? How's that coming along? Are they getting it comfortable...hope so. I guess if any of you have afew stocks, they are in the tank just as they are here in the USA {Grrrrrrr} Looks as if we are going to be cold {30's} and windy today with bright sunshine. That's from your local news here in Ohio. I have just started my Christmas shopping...on the net, mostly... and family will be getting very usuable items this year., no pricey playthings. Of course my boys would just like 100's in a sock. One is getting ready to start building a house in the Spring and of course hoarding money...the other bought an old jeep & has started restoring it... They sure do love that color of green. Oh, I just about forgot to tell you, I purchased my self a birthday gift this week....Kindle Fire....any of you all have one? I almost bought the knook{sp} that also reads but it was alittle more & decided I needed to enhance my mind alittle more so I took the Kindle Fire. REMEMBER if you don't use it ~ you lose it. Have rambled on long enough...let me know how the world has been treating you.
|
|
|
Post by barclay on Nov 18, 2011 3:25:12 GMT -7
Hi Ann - I've been learning to play bridge - horribly addictive, but at least it doesn't cause cancer.... Vienna had been having the same weird changes in temperature, so the tulips are up and the hazelnuts (Harry Lauders) have their catkins out - hope they all make it till spring!
|
|
|
Post by ann- on Nov 19, 2011 10:03:51 GMT -7
Just thought I would check in & see what everyone has been up to....Koi pond is bedded down for winter...leaves just about gone, trees look sooo empty. Our Fall has been pretty up & down...high temps one day; down in the 30's the next. Allen, weren't you working on getting a new leg? How's that coming along? Are they getting it comfortable...hope so. I guess if any of you have afew stocks, they are in the tank just as they are here in the USA {Grrrrrrr} Looks as if we are going to be cold {30's} and windy today with bright sunshine. That's from your local news here in Ohio. I have just started my Christmas shopping...on the net, mostly... and family will be getting very usuable items this year., no pricey playthings. Of course my boys would just like 100's in a sock. One is getting ready to start building a house in the Spring and of course hoarding money...the other bought an old jeep & has started restoring it... They sure do love that color of green. Oh, I just about forgot to tell you, I purchased my self a birthday gift this week....Kindle Fire....any of you all have one? I almost bought the knook{sp} that also reads but it was alittle more & decided I needed to enhance my mind alittle more so I took the Kindle Fire. REMEMBER if you don't use it ~ you lose it. Have rambled on long enough...let me know how the world has been treating you. Its been a weird sort of autumn here too and I am still wondering what happened to summer, but its come and gone and our youngest who was home from uni for the summer has returned for his final year. Weather has been remarkably mild of late, a few weeks ago I was actually picking strawberries from the garden so very unusual for this time of the year. Like Ann I have also started my christmas shopping and am hoping to make my christmas cake tomorrow .... its really not far away
|
|
ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
|
Post by ann58 on Nov 19, 2011 19:49:05 GMT -7
ANN, is this cake you are making like our fruit cakes we make over here....I make one every year & its loaded with apricot brandy {Yummm} I hate the normal fruit cakes with all the funny looking candied fruits in them {which this one doesn't have} but this one has raisens, dates, nuts & something else I can't think of @ this minute.
Happy Thanksgiving to all....ann
|
|
|
Post by ann- on Nov 20, 2011 12:58:14 GMT -7
ANN, is this cake you are making like our fruit cakes we make over here....I make one every year & its loaded with apricot brandy {Yummm} I hate the normal fruit cakes with all the funny looking candied fruits in them {which this one doesn't have} but this one has raisens, dates, nuts & something else I can't think of @ this minute. Happy Thanksgiving to all....ann yes, I imagine its very similar to the cake you describe Ann, its a very rich fruit cake, usually laced with brandy or rum, covered with marzipan and then iced &decorated, usually presented on christmas day, but in our house usually eaten in the weeks following christmas. When do you have Thanksgiving?
|
|
ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
|
Post by ann58 on Nov 29, 2011 19:53:30 GMT -7
Allen, I just heard on TV that your embassy has been over- run by hoodlums in Iran. What have you heard?
|
|
|
Post by ann- on Nov 30, 2011 0:17:04 GMT -7
am not Allen, but it was reported on the news here, think they said this morning that they are recalling those employed there back to the UK
|
|
|
Post by allenuk on Nov 30, 2011 13:36:36 GMT -7
Am Allen.
Well, every country has its fair share of hoodlums, hasn't it. I suppose the difference is that some countries organise their hoodlums on an official level, while others are more free enterprise hoodlums.
Don't suppose it'll lead to war...
A.
|
|
ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
|
Post by ann58 on Dec 1, 2011 16:13:58 GMT -7
Am Allen. Well, every country has its fair share of hoodlums, hasn't it. I suppose the difference is that some countries organise their hoodlums on an official level, while others are more free enterprise hoodlums. Don't suppose it'll lead to war... A. I SURE HOPE IT DOESN'T...I THINK WE CLOSED OURS AROUND '99 AFTER THEY KIDNAPPED SEVERAL OF OUR CITIZENS. THINK THERE WERE ACOUPLE OTHER EMABASSYS THAT ALSO CLOSED.
|
|
ampgk
New Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by ampgk on Dec 2, 2011 19:42:43 GMT -7
Introducing a little thread drift but bringing this into the ontopic realm, next year's amputee football world championships are scheduled for...Iran.
|
|
ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
|
Post by ann58 on Dec 2, 2011 21:18:03 GMT -7
By that time Iran may not be interested in football, amputee or otherwise. I don't think it is the people that are hardliners; just the leaders. It makes me very sad for them and their country.
|
|
|
Post by allenuk on Dec 3, 2011 5:51:24 GMT -7
Can only agree, Ann58, totally, with that view.
For the sake of even-handedness, though, I would add that over the course of watching the world for many decades, lunatic leaders have seemed to be in evidence in many countries, some extremely close to home.
A.
|
|
|
Post by cherylm on Dec 4, 2011 1:54:06 GMT -7
A little interest in amputee football might be just the thing to allow folks to get their competitive spirit and aggressiveness out there in a somewhat-more-reasonable manner. Unless, of course, there's such a thing as an "amputee football hoodlum" subculture out there.....
|
|
ampgk
New Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by ampgk on Dec 4, 2011 22:40:45 GMT -7
Unless, of course, there's such a thing as an "amputee football hoodlum" subculture out there..... No, in fact quite the opposite. There was an article in Russia a few years ago entitled "Football Without Spectators" where the head of the Russian Disabled Football Federation took the tournament organizers to task for the lack of fan support for that year's Russian amputee football championships. Similarly, amputee football is a demonstration sport at the IWAS (International Wheelchair and Ambulatory Sports, formerly known as Stoke Mandeville and self-proclaimed inventor of the Paralympics) World Games currently under way and one of the tweets says "Spectators wanted". I gather the crowds are pretty thin. OTOH, some of the Russian amputee footballers have been known to assault referees when things aren't going their way.
|
|
|
Post by allenuk on Dec 5, 2011 3:03:49 GMT -7
|
|
ampgk
New Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by ampgk on Dec 5, 2011 15:52:55 GMT -7
That image is by Adam Nadel. It won first prize in the Sports Features Singles category in the 2004 World Press Contest. The team is in Sierra Leone. Complete story here: www.polarisimages.com/nadel_sierra_leone.htmlAccording to people who claim to know, twenty-one percent of the world's amputees are in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone placed fourth (behind Liberia, Ghana and Angola) in the recently-completed African Nations Cup amputee football tournament in Accra, Ghana. While Sierra Leone has been playing longer with vastly more international experience than any other African team, they've always been something of a disappointment in competition. They haven't progressed like the other teams.
|
|
|
Post by allenuk on Dec 6, 2011 7:55:31 GMT -7
Thanks for the link, ampgk - having now read the full story, I find even MORE reason to feel lucky. Being poor, one-legged, and black, is a bad enough set of cards, but add to that living in Sierra Leone. And they can still manage to enjoy themselves?
A
|
|