I think we each remember where we were and what we were doing. I was in an office building, working as a senior executive for a company whose landmark office tower was threatened in terrorist chatter. Worked all morning with one eye on TV as the towers fell and another in meetings watching our property managers move to quietly evacuate the building. Also spoke with my wife by phone all morning trying to figure out what was happening, and what we would tell our then 7 year old, with whom we had just visited the top of the towers 2 months before. Probably the last time we really all came together as Americans. May G-d bless those lost that horrible day, and their families.
I was fresh out of UF and working in Tampa Bay. When I got to the office the first plane had just hit. I was in the cafeteria having coffee with a few coworkers with the news playing on a TV. The thought at the time was that it was an accident, a small plane. We watched mostly out of curiosity. Then the second plane hit, the explosion live on TV. Shock ensued. As everyone arrived, we all sat there in silence watching everything unfold. Those poor people jumping to their deaths. The towers coming down. By noon we all went home. I called my girlfriend on my way home. She had been head down in her office working all morning. She had no idea. I had a hard time explaining to her the gravity of the situation. I felt she was being cavalier about it. She came home that afternoon and wept after seeing the images. I remember that day in vivid detail. The world changed for the worse. And we are still living with the consequences.
Turned on the news to start my day just in time to see the second plane hit. I was working on a military base at the time. Needless to say everything changed that day.
For me, initial shock turned to anger. I was ready to enlist at age 31. It was awesome how we all came together at least for a short time. If we'd caught or killed Bin Laden in Tora Bora rather than invading Iraq, maybe we would have stayed more united(?).
A day that burns into one’s memory for sure. I showed up at my research lab at UF to be told by some other students that a plane crashed into one of the twin towers. I was baffled. Like an accident? My friend just shrugged her shoulders. Then shortly after, the other tower was hit. Somberly, all of us, our professor included, just decided to go home. The rest of the day, I watched the carnage on TV in disbelief.
The last hours of living in a somewhat sane country, there will come a time when we are nostalgic for it, if we arent already.
Woke up to a flat tire on my truck. My wife and I were still basically newly weds having bought our first home next to my parents. I told her I was going to walk over and see if I could borrow dads truck to run my tire up to get it replaced. First report came in as I was standing in my parents den. I watched the second plane hit bi then took my tire down the road and watched in their waiting area as Pentagon reports came in. I then went home and spent the day with my wife glued to the TV. Our 3 kids were not born yet .. and I am glad I didnt have to explain that in the moment to children.
Woke up expecting to write a feature and cover a HS volleyball game that night. . . turned on the TV and quickly realized I would be on the news side that day. Spent the day interviewing people at blood banks and donation sites.
I hate him with the white-hot passion of 1000 suns, but that was inappropriate and uncalled for in that moment and at that place.
Was sleeping in Tolbert Hall when the girl I was "dating" called me and told me the world was ending. Turned the TV on and don't recall doing much else all day.
It all happened so fast; anybody that was tuning in to the news to learn about the Flight 11 crash into the North Tower was likely viewing live the Flight 175 crash into the South Tower. Then came the Pentagon (Flight 77) and "Let's Roll" (Flight 93) shortly there after. Like was mentioned above, the initial speculation was that a small plane accidentally crashed into the North Tower, but over the next hour or so and then the aftermath, it truly felt like our nation was under attack. People were mad, sad, frustrated, and confused all at the same time. If you never had a chance to visit the Museum, all I can say is it's intense. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
I was on the phone with my wife, who had seen the first plane hit. As we were talking she said OMG a second plane just hit the other tower. I remember saying “we’re under attack, do we know anyone flying today?” Fortunately we didn’t but I did have 2 colleagues exiting the tower who had to dodge falling bodies in the plaza while fleeing to safety.
I saw a headline on the computer about a plane hitting the tower. I figured it was an accident, but quickly turned on the TV and saw the second plane hit. That's when I realized it was an attack. I drove to work scanning the skies to see if Jacksonville was under siege. The whole thing was surreal. The deaths, the feelings of confusion and loss ... the heroes working to rescue people ... and the country really felt united for a little while.
I had just started my last year of dental school. I had a patient at 9am and was driving to the clinic listening to Howard Stern. As I pulled into the parking structure, Howard (and Robin) were talking about a plane that struck the first tower and how that was odd as they said the weather was clear and beautiful in NYC. I was about to get out of my car when they said another plane had hit the other tower. I listened in utter shock as they transferred the broadcast to whatever MSM they were affiliated with. I listened for about half-hour, then went inside the clinic and cancelled all of my patients for that day, went back home and was transfixed on the news for the next few days. The Nation changed that day.
That pitch that GWB threw in the Bronx was such a uniting moment. I wish he could throw another pitch tonight and unite us again.
