What really hit home for you on 9/11 ?????

[rhino 0]

Just past six months now since the tragedy.. I was wondering what it was for you that really hit home "On that day what made you cry?"
What did it do to your life? How has your outlook changed?
That morning I got a call from my mom in Florida saying a plane just flew into the trade center.. Seconds later as I turned on the TV I saw the second plane slam into the other tower LIVE.. Glued to the TV I was in awwwwe??
It didn't REALLY hit me until I saw someone jump from the burning building. A Thousand thoughts hit me at once and I cried and I cried.. I almost want to cry just remembering how I felt. One of the thousands of thoughts was being in freefall with no rig on knowing I was going to die. That hurt. The feeling sucked.
Since then I take time to smell the air, look at the trees, take walks, I thank God for everything, I cherish time with family even more than before, and on and on and on... It is hard to really plan for the future after that day.. So I try to do the best I can on a day to day basis..
Right now, sitting at my computer at work I am thankful. Thankful that I am here.. Thankful that I get my son this weekend.. Just thankful.. Thankful for you all..
What about you?? This was something that was really bothering me this morning.. I guess I need to vent..
Rhino
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!
http://www.aahit.com

[Emmie 0]

I remember crying alot after 9/11, I cried for the people that died, for their families, and for the world. It didn't hit me right away, because the whole thing just seemed so unreal. Then a couple of weeks later, I can rember having a really persistent feeling that somehow nothing would ever be the same. I think I lost some of the security that I had, because you just never know what's going to happen.
9/11 made me realize that I was an American. Even though I wasn't born here, what happened made me realize that this was my country.

[rhino 0]

Amen brother....
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!
http://www.aahit.com

[SkyDolphin 0]

I think we all remember exactly where we were and what we were doing at the exact moment when something horrible in our lives happen. I still remember the exact moment the Space Shuttle exploded.
As for 9-11, I had flown down to Perris the night before. My husband was supposed to fly down the day after. I was staying with some friends when we heard the news. All I wanted to do was call my husband and daughter and make sure they were ok. We live in Redmond, WA a mile from the main Microsoft campus. For some reason I was afraid that Microsoft might be a target and at the time, there was still a plane unaccounted for. But I don't think it really hit me until I heard an interview that afternoon with the mother of one of the guys on the plane that went down in PA. Then I remember thinking. My God this is real. Mother's have lost childrem, children have parents, wifes lost husbands, husbands lost wives, fiances lost fiances and friends lost friends. Not just a few but thousands all in the matter of an hour.
I didn't make it home until the following Monday. My flight was cancelled 3 times before I could actually get on a flight. But I am thankful that I was surrounded by people I love unlike thousands of others who were stranded in airports all over the world surrounded by only strangers to comfort them. They are not strangers any longer I'd wager.
I broke my femur a couple years ago and ever since then, I've been afraid of getting hurt again with everything I do. I hadn't jumped since then. But in the last couple months, I've been battling my fears and starting to live life to the fullest again and trying not to worry so much about getting hurt. I did my first jump in 2 years 2 weekends ago.
I don't think anything will ever have that much impact on me personally or on my friends and family. I hope we never forget how we felt that day and do everything in our power to make sure it never happens again.
Rhonda

[PhillyKev 0]

The day after there was a picture collage being sent around the net of different people around the world showing their condolences. There was this older lady at the US Embassy in London, she was reaching between the iron bars in the gate as far as she could, holding up an American flag as high as she could with tears streaming down her face. Don't know what it was, but something about that picture made the tears start streaming down my face. I think maybe when I saw that it just clicked how much of an impact that event had on the world and that things would be different from then on.
cielos azules y cerveza fría
-Kevin

[BikerBabe 0]

I guess what really did it for me on 9/11 was when I heard about the Pentagon. See, I'm in the military, and I've been to the Pentagon several times, and know several people who work there. While everyone was talking about ground zero, and the NYFD, and the WTC collapsing, I was in a panic wondering about my friends at the Pentagon. The WTC seemed somehow less real to me than that big hole in the side of the Pentagon.
To me, the Pentagon (not the WTC) was this grand symbol of the US's invincibility. Imagine how I felt when i saw that huge gaping hole in the side. My leadership, our military strength, was called into question. I mean, my God, if they could hit the Pentagon...
I guess in the weeks and months following the attack, I was slightly bitter that the attack on the Pentagon was seemingly overlooked...everyone talking abot the heroes at the WTC that day, the heroes on the plane in PA, and no one mentioning that almost 200 people died at the Pentagon.
I'm not trying to diminish the work and heroism of those in New York, but please, don't forget that the Pentagon had a ground zero as well, one that for me was psychologically more damaging than the WTC collapsing.
God Bless America!

[rhino 0]

I was in the military to.. I understand completely.. Thank you guys for sharing..
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!
http://www.aahit.com

[billvon 3,120]

>What did it do to your life? How has your outlook changed?
The reason it really hit home for me was that I came within about 20 minutes of being on AA flight 11 that morning. Did it change my life? No, not really. I think I decided a while back what was really important to me - friends, family, working at something I cared about, jumping when I could - and so there was no "I could have missed out on X, Y and Z if I'd been on that plane!" Maybe it's because I've come close in the past myself, and seen friends of mine die. I know my time here is short.
-bill von

[Sebazz1 2]

Since 9/11 my perspective on the world has changed. I was naive for sooo long. I figured people were inherently good or more good than bad. The 9/11 tragedy has really opened my eyes up to the fact that the world is still pretty fucked up and my false sense of safety I have had over the years hiding in this sheltered preppy liberal town i'm in has been pretty much shattered. Where is safe? I mean shit these a-holes tagged the Pentagon! I would assume that they could strike anywhere!
When I was a kid I used to have night mares about nuclear war. You know during the cold war and stuff but I thought that things had changed since then. I am having those dreams again..........
So the 9/11 tragedy has made me lose a bit of faith in humanity. I wonder if we can still turn this world around.......
Peace.........
Sebazz............

[rhino 0]

I guess that is up to each of us to do in our own way.. I wouldn't want to be a terrorist or one of those rogue states right now. These assholes have awaken a GIANT and he is PISSED!! Uncle Sam has a wad of cash and the good ole USA behind him for the first time. I have a renewed sense of faith in our government. Things aren't where they need to be but they are heading in the right direction. Our boys are fighting out there so we can be safe. Let's keep the faith for them. We owe it to them to believe in them and what they are doing for us and our children. They are giving the ultimate sacrifice for humanity.. My faith is with them as are my prayers. Things are already starting to get better..
Keep the faith!!!
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!
http://www.aahit.com

[lummy 4]

Biker Babe,
You have some really good points about how the Pentagon was overlooked and the big story is the WTC.
If you think about it justa little bit differently, the fact that the Pentagon was Ground Zero could be seen as success story. I mean think about it, a fully fueled plane crashes right into the bldg, yet only 180 causalties, only one section of the bldg is destroyed with little collateral damage to the rest and is still usable and functional. Not only that, but aren't they projecting that it will be fully restored by 2003?

Make up your own ending,let me know just how you feel....

[Michele 1]

I wrote something that day. Posted it here, and until now, haven't gone back to re-read it.
Here it is: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=forumtalkback&Number=42886&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=Prayer and a Candle&Match=Entire Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=42886
I remember thinking the sky is so blue - that's our sky......
If you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away...
~enya~

[Muenkel 0]

Here's an absolute true story, believe it or not:
My religious faith has always been important to me and I try to pray everyday. On Sept. 4th, exactly one week prior to the 11th I was in DC on business. I was staying in a hotel a block and a half from the White House. It was a beautiful summer evening and I wanted to walk down to the White House because I remembered how beautiful it looked all lit up at night. None of my coworkers wanted to go so around 10pm I went by myself. As I was walking down there I had an overwhelming feeling to pray and to pray fervently. As I walked all the way around the White House (I would quess a mile in distance) I prayed very hard for the safety of the President, his family and our country. I asked God to please quide him and help our country become united.
When the events of the 11th happened and I have heard that the White House was a possible target it blew my mind. If this is true, it makes you wonder of the power of just one person's prayers.
BTW, I lost 2 family acquaintances in the WTC. They both worked for Cantor Fitzgerald. Their bodies have never been found. One left behind a wife and 4 young kids. The other left behind a wife, 2 kids and 1 on the way.
We must never forget!
Skydivers...they're just plain cool!
Chris

[skymedic 0]

Quote

and the NYFD

that would be FDNY.......they like to be different....
I lost 1 Very close friend who was on rescue 1 that day...I went to paramedic school with him...and then to the fire acacemy with him......
when I saw the planes go in...I knew I would lose many of my brothers and sisters in this fight......God bless my fellow firefighters and paramedics....
marc
BSBD

[rhino 0]

We won't forget.. ever..
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!
http://www.aahit.com

[Zennie 0]

What I'm about to say is probably going to offend some people, but this is the way I felt and largely still the way I feel.
Ironically, my wife in I were going in to her doctor to discuss having children. My wife is a DES child and so we wanted to know what the risks would be. We hadn't actually decided to have kids yet, but since we're both in our mid 30s, we needed to start thinking about it soon and make preparations.
When w got there, the doctor's staff told us that two planes flew into the WTC and one into the Pentagon and that we were under attack. My initial reaction, like my reaction when first told the shuttle blew up was "yeah right". We went into the doctor's office, had our meeting and came out. Then we saw the TV.
My first reaction was "Dang, now I'm never going to be able to BASE jump from the towers." Almost as soon as I said it I realized there were people in those buildings, people suffering and dying. People whos families were watching their loved ones dying on TV. I use humor a lot to break tense situations, but this was not the time to try to use it because it wasn't funny. Of course I felt horrible for being so callous.
On the way home, I got to feeling really angry. Why on earth would I want to bring a child into this messed up world filled with hate and killing?
When I watched the 9/11 documentary this past Sunday it rekindled those feelings anew. They're playing the video, and you hear these horrifying crashes. They tell you early on that those are people hitting the ground. People who decided to jump rather than burn to death (which I would have also opted to do). You just heard BAM, BAM, BAM... over and over. I just got sick and angry all over again. But probably not for the same reasons as most people. I turned to everyone and said "Remember, all this is what God wanted".
How many more atrocities are we going to commit, how many innocent people are going to continue to suffer and die, in the name of God? How many more atrocities are we going to commit, how many innocent people are going to continue to suffer and die, in the name of mindless nationalism?
More blood has been spilled in the name of God and/or Country, ironically, both intangible, subjective concepts, than I care to think.
I'm sure it will continue until people learn to treat others as fellow human beings, not "us" and "them". John Lennon had it right in "Imagine".
Again, sorry if I've offended people, but this is how I feel.
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[rhino 0]

Thanks for the input everyone..
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!
http://www.aahit.com

[SkyDolphin 0]

Zennie,
I'm not offended. History has proven time and time again that most of the wars in the world were started in the name of God or better still in the name of "RELIGION". Be it Muslim against Christian, Catholic against Protestant whatever. I don't think it's what God wants. It's only what sick deranged people think God wants. People's interpretation of what God wants. Religion's interpretation of what God wants. God is not the bad guy. "RELIGION" is. I believe there's a difference.
Rhonda

[Zennie 0]

Quote

God is not the bad guy. "RELIGION" is. I believe there's a difference.

That's sort of what my point was, but I'm not sure it came across that way. People have thir own subjective notion of what God is, but I'm pretty confident, if there is a God, that he/she wouldn't want us treating each other that way.
Great bumper sticker I saw a while back. It said "God doesn't favor any group of people. Religions do that." That about sums it up.
It was also pointed out to me that a lot of good has been done in the name of God too. Look at Mother Theresa. Or Mohandas Ghandi. Or Thich Nhat Hanh. Or Martin Luther King. Or Jesus.
It really gets down to treating each other with kindness & respect. That's the common thread through almost every religion/philosophy you find. And that's really what it's all about.

"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[wingnut 0]

i was on a flight from wright paterson air force base in ohio to my bas in germany while all of 9/11 took place...when we landed in germany a guy cam on the plane wearing his kevlar helmet and gas mask holder...we were like what's going on? he told us what happened and we first though he's just fucking with us then he said the word that i will never forget..."this is real world" which ment he wasn't kidding...... we were in force protection condition delta out highest level of security... it hit me that i might actually have to do my job, not to send planes up for training but for war..........and i did......
on a side note.... got to talk to a guy today that went in with the special forces to call in air strikes... he was telling us about a time he called in air strikes for 6 hours strait...total kia from just those strikes....2000+ taliban fighters
killed.......... war...where no one is a winner.......
zenni,
i understand how ya feel about bringning kids into the world now adays.... but somebody has to do it and teach the next generation of our past, and raise them right.........."know your past lest ye are bound to repeat it"................

"i may not go to heven, i hope you go to hell"-C.C.

[jtval 0]

i was still a newbie sin korea at that time(got here late august) and it was 930 pm,11 sept, when i found out i was watching live( i think those were ther only live broadcasts i have seen here) i grew up on long island and was in the city very often. i love america i just left 2.5 weeks prior to that. so no body understood what was going on in my head....obviously i felt angry alone..but worst of all HELPLESS! there wasnt a fukn thing i could do! i couldnt even call/email my friends and family. all lines of communication were clogged up so for 4 days all i did was watch ....and watch! and i wondered (mostly about my brother) if my family was alive!
knowing that all i could do is numb myself until i found out it got worse when i went to work! (dont forget these are military ppl) when i 1st got here the crew that i was the first to replace were lazy assholes the typical govt worker type. so muy bond with them just wasnt going to happen but when i walked in they were making jokes about it.( i use humor constantly, they werent these kinda's of jokes) they wewre jokes that plainly said...that these fukn assholes we're unaffected by this outrage i was feeling. so do i walk away. or do i get military on their asses and snap lock them up and explian that WE...ALL OF THESE AMERICANS ON THIS PENINSULA are what is gonna stand between the next attack! well, i didnt lock em up! but once i was able to get the image of myself bitch slapping these fuks outta my head i told them all what i thought.
no yelling or barking just eye opening An reality check. some of them had a small spark of thought that died out the very next day! god do i hate those mo fo's that used to work here. i am glad to say that we have aligned our work shop into a "full-on, still having fun, but at the same time busting our asses to get shit done" environment. and now i feel like i have apurpose again. whew...what a long story with too many points but you can skip over this if you want...(god knows i would)

getting high is fun, but coming down is the best part
JT

[rhino 0]

Sounds like thos guys did need some bitch slapping to me.. But I am glad things are going better. Thanks for the input..
Me personally... My son will be 5 in Oct. I want 2 more kids to raise to become good people and maybe even Marines to kill those bastards!! jk... I don't know if I would want my kids in the Marines. It is a different Corps from when I went it but I still believe in them and support them.
I read the story in Time magazine about the Navy Seal that fell out of the back of that Chinook helicopter. Those boys are BAD!!!!
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!
http://www.aahit.com

[freeflir29 0]

I was just mainly glad that all the conspiracy theorists and extreme right wing people in this country were WRONG! I have seen some pretty crazy theories on whats "Really" going on in this country. In my military mind I kept those theories as a possibility and kept resources available to deal with such things. It was a great relief that none of the crazy scenarios happened. 9/11 was the perfect opportunity to put those things in to place. It didn't happen and that made me feel a lot of relief. Now all I worry about is external enemies...and those nutty left wing people....."I only have a C license, so I don't know shit..right?"-Clay