CONTEST: WHERE AND WHAT YOU WERE DOIN ON 9-11-01

[Barry Butrymowicz]

I am having this contest today to share with everyone what I was doing and where I was on the day of 9/11/01. Everyone that posts and shares their stories will be entered into a drawing and will win a random pathtag of my own and a trackable geocoin. There is no rules except to only enter 1 entry please. Contest will end at Mid-night tonight. 9/11/11.

I work with the mentally and physically handicapped, I was at a local hospital as my client just had surgery. I just done a all niter and in the morning went to the waiting room turned on the TV and could not believe my eyes on what had just happened at the site of seeing one plane just hit the Twin Towers, there in shock I stood, not really comprehending what had just happened. I didnt know whether to scream or cry. I stood there in disbelief, moment later seen a second plane hit the other Twin Tower. I had knew at this point this was going to be a sad day for the rest of our lives that this was a terrorist attack.

Today and all the years since this horrific day, I always fly our flag at half staff with honor of all the men and woman that have died, the firefighters that died in the line of duty, all that have lost loved ones, and for the people who lived and were injured. There is not a day that goes by that I do not thank my husband for being a fire fighter. He saves lives and does a hell of a job what he loves best. When there is a call on the line of duty he gets a adrenalin rush and puts his own life in danger to save others. He is my own personal hero in my eyes and I am proud to be a wife of a firefighter. God Bless and remember to have a moment of silence for all who suffered on 9/11/01

[kungfuhippie]

I was driving to work from the vet’s office when I heard about it on the radio. I couldn’t really wrap my head around the idea until I got to the bank and saw all my co-workers just sitting there.

My sister-in-law lived in NYC up until last year, so when we were out to visit, we managed to go to GZ and it was eerie that in the middle of the city there was a kind of quiet in the area.

[gotta run]

In my office on the phone to a client who told me about it. Went downstairs to watch the news. My daughter was nearly 3 and son was 2 months from being born. She was babsitting 2 kids my daughter’s age. Even the kids knew something was wrong.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[Vegas Gamblers]

We received a phone call telling us that a plane had hit the Tower, my first thought a stupid cesna or similar plane had hit the tower. Then we turned on the T.V. to watch the news. It was strange looking up and not seeing planes flying, having non-stop coverage, everythng stopped and everything changed that day.

[bartrod]

I think it was during my 2nd hour math class that another teacher popped her head in and told me to turn on the TV. We were all dumbstruck by what we saw…and then it happened again! The silence was so thick, you could have cut it with a knife. The rest of the planned teaching day was lost to the events that unfolded and transpired. It’s difficult to explain to 5th graders what could foster so much hate. But they were able to witness courage and fortitude that will live with them their whole lives…a terrible lesson that one hopes will not be repeated.

Oconto...the birthplace of western civilization:)

[Astro_D]

I just got up and turned on the TV when I saw an image of a plane hitting the WTC. I thought it was some movie that was on whatever channel was left on from the night before. I heard my son stirring (he just turned 3), went up to get him out of bed, came downstairs, looked at the TV to see the second plane hit the tower, heard the commentary and realized this was no bad movie I was watching. I just sat there stunned…I then called my hubby at work to tell him what happened. He came home and got our extra TV to bring to work.

The weirdest thing though, was on Thursday we went to a big star party (astronomy observing) south of Chicago and the entire four days – there was absolute silence and empty skies as there were no planes flying. If you’ve ever spent time in or near the Chicago area – you know how those skies are filled with the sight and sound of planes all the time. It was a very surreal experience.

[2nd time around]

I was canoeing in the Boundary waters in northern Minn. with a very good friend. He always brings a little radio along so he can hear that days news. I always tell him that I do not want to hear any outside news as I go there to get away from eveything. That night as we were laying in our tent he asked me if I wanted to hear some news of which I told him no.. He replied that I probably really wanted to hear it as I have a Son that was active military at the time and thought I might be concerned. When I finally said yes I could not believe what I was hearing. The next morning we paddled out so we could contact our families and to watch the news on T.V.

[CodeJunkie]

I was in a meeting at work and someone poked there head in and said something big happened in NYC. The meeting was over shortly and when I went back to my desk I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Being in IT it was interesting just keeping the network up with everyone trying to download videos / pictures (needless to say not much work got done). We then setup a few televisions so people could see it live along with the news coverage.

Note: Yesterday I was at the mall in Appleton and on the south side they have a flag display that is truly amazing. Anyone in the area may want to swing past just to see it. It has a flag for every police officer & firefighter that died that day. Just seeing the group of flags for this brave group of individuals was very moving.

[Timberline Echoes]

I was subbing in a kindergarden class room. When they went out for morning recess I went to the teacher’s lounge. I remember the feeling of shock but had to surpress it because the kids were coming in. Of course it was already playground talk and one of the kids heard that many many planes were crashing into buildings all over. Some of the kids were getting scared. I reassured them that they were safe. I also told them that only one plane had crashed far far away. It appeased them for the time and we went on with business as usual. Once home we were glued to the tv as much as possible hoping to see and hear of more people getting rescued.
Mrs. TE

[Grandma & Grandpa]

09/11/2001… I was teaching a high school class, and word spread that we should get the TV’s on, as there was national news breaking. We saw the first tower burning, and the second plane come in. Most of the kids were numb and in shock, but I distinctly remember a few who were joking and disrespectful. And interestingly, these same three are currently in jail, or awaiting trial on seriouis felony charges. Unfortunately, some attitudes do not change, I guess.

Gram and her mom and aunt had a European trip booked for early October that year. We had to make some quick decisions about whether they should go. The airline industry was in chaos, planes were not flying, and nobody could predict when they might or how safely. We had a lot of money laid out in tickets, hotels, etc, it was a personally stressful time in addition to the crisis in our nation. They eventually did go, amid a LOT of security, and encountered no scary situations (other than the Autobahn…).

That day has changed all of our lives forever. We have done some travelling since, and it is far more complicated. Many have lost their lives on our behalf in the war on terroism. We are all more diligent in observing what others may be up to. In it all, I am thankful to be living where we do, I don’t think rural central Wisconsin is much of a terrorist target. But on days like today, I am reminded to pray for those who live elsewhere, perhaps in harms way.

God Bless the USA!

Grandpa

[LostBoys5]

I was working at WalMart at the time and some coworkers called in and some people came in and mentioned it. It was really hard to grasp until seeing it and the devistation on the TV. We were glued for days to all the new coverage until it became too much. We will never forget.

[JimandLinda]

I was on my way to Madison to conduct 17 job interviews and had just pulled up to a Hardees drive-thru when the 2nd plane hit the towers. The first interview occured at 9 AM, but no one else showed up until the last interview at 12:30. A co-worker stayed for that one, and I left for home at 10 AM, stopping at the High School to pick up my daughters. I told the office staff that it was important for families to experience it together.
The girls came to the office and relished getting out of school, until I told them we would be glued to the TV until their usual dismissal time. Once watching the sad news from NYC, they soon appreciated being in a secure setting, and asked alot of “how will this affect our future” questions. Truthfully, I had few answers at the time, but I knew America had just been slammed in the gut by a sledge hammer. Things would be different from now on.

[rcflyer2242]

I was removing some carpet in an apartment for replacement when mom wingwalker told me about what was going on. I got back just in time to see the second plane hit. If it matters my vote goes for either Bartrod or Timberline Echoes as they had the tough job of keeping the small kids from getting all upset.

[BeccaDay]

I have to start out by saying that my husband used to be an arabic linguist in the Army. His last month enlisted was August 2001. I actually didn’t find out about the attack until just before the first tower fell because my one-year-old daughter had been watching a movie that morning. I spent the next few hours calling my husband every 20 minutes or so freaking out about the whole thing until his boss finally just sent him home. We both felt so conflicted. He felt relieved that he wouldn’t have to be mobilized since he’d just gotten out 2 weeks before but then feeling incredibly guilty because he had skills that could help and he wanted to help! After sitting at home worrying for half the day, glued to the TV, I ended up heading out to donate blood where I waited in line to do so for several hours. I was also very worried about my mom who was a flight attendant for United at the time. She turned out to be grounded in South Dakota somewhere but we couldn’t get a hold of her because all the circuits were jammed. That part was pretty scary! I’ll never forget that day!

Not all who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien

[RSplash40]

I was walking into my former employment already in a bad mood and telling a coworker out on a smoke break “This is going to be a sh.. day I can just feel it”.

I got up stairs, fired up the computer and checked cnn.com to see only one line of text:

“A plane has hit the world trade center, that is all we know.”

That was it, no graphics, no cnn red banner, no sports, no tech column, nothing. One simple line of text. Never thought my words to the coworker would be any more than me in a bad mood.

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