September 11

I felt like after what happened 7 years ago to our country I had to do a post remembering this day. I know everyone had their own unique experience that day and I wanted to share mine, mostly so I can stop thinking about it maybe. I was so obsessed with watching coverage from that day for so many years, and today I had to limit it to just 2 hours. It's such an emotional day for so many people that I didn't want to ignore it, I felt guilty doing that.

I remember the first time I saw the World Trade Center Towers. When Phil and I were first married we lived up in North Jersey and we used to drive into Hoboken and take the Path Train into the WTC and you'd exit out into this huge courtyard under the towers. I remember looking up and just being in awe at how tall they were.

I also remember Sept. 11, 2001 starting out as an unusual day for me. Unusual b/c it had been kind of cloudy weather for days and this morning the sky was an amazing bright blue w/ these big white fluffy clouds. I used to call my mom on the way to work and park my car and make the 10 min. walk to work while chit chatting. I did so this morning and I remember my cheery mood being harshly changed as she told me she was watching the news and it seemed as if a plane had just hit one of the towers. I remmeber her telling me they thought it was just one of those small engine planes. It really bugged me and when I got into the office, ready to share the news, my co-workers were all huddled by a radio listening to the chaos at the towers. It was then that another plane hit the other tower. The DJ, co-workers and I just freaked. I just remembering being scared. I didn't know why-they didn't know it was terrorists yet, but I just felt afraid. We all sat there numb watching this tiny 4 inch TV watching the events unfold. It was so unnerving b/c more than half of my co-workers spouses/boyfriends worked in teh city and b/c cell service had stopped nobody could get in touch w/ anybody. One of my friends' husbands was supposed to be in teh towers and she was in hysterics. She actually had to be medicated by another co-worker who just so happened to have valium on her. (that's another story all together...) I know I was feeling what all of America was feeling. Totally and completely helpless and very frightened. At one point the Air Force flew incredibly low right over us and with what was going on we all just freaked. We had no idea what was going to happen next.

Eventually my boss sent us all home b/c we clearly weren't accomplishing anything at work. Phil also came home and we just sat glued to that tv all day long. I felt that my innocence had been taken. I also remember thinking that this is what it feels like to live in a time of a major lifetime event. I thought of Kennedy being shot, Pearl Harbor, etc. and hoped this would be it for me.

Luckily nobody I directly knew was killed that day. Nobody in our ward died. We did lose a client from the office and we had to painstakingly call and cancel all the orders we had for her. The town I worked in, Summit, NJ, lost several people that day. Coming to work the next day the train station had cars still parked in the lot, a bad sign b/c the trains were closed and these were people who didn't make it home.

With the laborious charge to weed through the rubble to find survivors, the city was asking for donations of masks, water, etc for the people doing this. Our office rallied and gathered as much as we could and Phil and I drove into Jersey City to make the delivery. We stood at the water looking at the huge cloud of smoke and all the memorials in silence. The most touching part was the ferry that brought the NJ firefighters from NYC home. We all stood in a line and as they walked off, filthy with dust and debris, we clapped and hugged and high-fived these heroes.

I am so proud of the way NYC and NJ came together during those days. We get a bad rap as being grouchy, impersonal and rude. (well, it's true) And we became united and helped each other and it was so nice to see.

We went to Battery Park and Ground Zero not too long after 9/11 and it was such a depressing sight. They had large pieces of the building as memorials in the park. Ground Zero was still a dusty mess w/ smashed buildings and stores that had been makeshift morgues. I just felt such a respect for life that day and a respect for God.

Not to get too mooshy or anything, but I am so grateful my life wasn't touched by this anymore than it has. I feel so bad for all those grieving family and friends. I feel bad for my friends friend who escaped the north tower after watching a co-worker jump out a window. I can't imagine how his life has been dramatically changed forever.

So go hug somebody now and tell them you love them! And don't forget this day. I know I sound like an old person, but we can't forget that America isn't invincible. And like my friend posted on her blog, let's not let this day become a marketing "holiday" for a good sale.