So there I was(9/11)

"Scary__goongala!" (corymagee)
09/11/2015 at 20:35 • Filed to: None

Mrs. XXXXX’s 2nd grade class. We had just switched to our reading/writing section for the day. For a 2nd grader I had great cursive writing and Mrs. XXXXX was a total witch. Next thing I know we are going home. None of us knew why so we thought it was awesome. Then I got got home. Sprinted home to see my Dad I did. But then I saw his face and how he hugged me. Next I saw the TV. The rest is history. Thank you to all the service members military/police/firefighters who have severed before me.

DISCUSSION (6)

Boxer_4 > Scary__goongala!
09/11/2015 at 20:54

I was in 2nd grade as well, but I don’t remember much of what we actually did. My dad had the more interesting story. He was on a business trip, getting ready to leave for his destination, when it all started. I believe he was on the jetway at the door of the aircraft when they told everyone to turn around. He and everyone else saw what was happening on the televisions in the terminal. Then he and everyone else were kicked out of the airport, and everyone’s checked baggage was dumped in the road in front of the airport. The airport closed its doors shortly after. I recall my dad saying that while it was insane what was going on in front of the airport, it was orderly and calm, which was quite surprising. He never did go on that business trip.

One of my dad’s coworkers wasn’t quite as lucky, and was stuck in Texas. He ended up renting a car and driving back home ~1,500 miles.

Still, none of this even comes close to what those who were directly involved and their families experienced that day.

JeepJeremy > Scary__goongala!
09/11/2015 at 20:59

I like how you mention your father in this post! My father worked the night shift that night before. He didn’t get out of bed until noonish on 9/11/01. I went into the kitchen as he was pouring himself a cup of coffee. I had been in front of the tv since the second plane crashed. I’ll never forget the look on his face when I said “dad, you better come in here and see this”.

f86sabre > Scary__goongala!
09/11/2015 at 21:58

I had worked midnight shift at Hartsfield International airport in Atlanta that morning. I was getting off work when the first plane hit. They didn’t know it was a commercial jet yet. By the time I got home they knew what was going on. Stayed up watching the news, but finally went to bed as I had to go into work that night, even though I had no idea what we would be doing. Showing up to the busiest airport in the world that night and it being so quiet that all you could hear was birds chirping is pretty stunning. The place was also ringed by police and I had to show my badge 3 times before I got to the parking lot. We were still trying to get a handle on where all our planes were that first night. We then started putting all our efforts into making sure the fleet was ready to go once flying started back up. There were a lot of people out there who were desperate to get home to loved ones and we were going to make sure we were ready.

Scary__goongala! > JeepJeremy
09/11/2015 at 22:31

My dad is a truck driver and most of his years doing such was at night. So that morning he literally just got back before me as things began to unfold.

Scary__goongala! > f86sabre
09/11/2015 at 22:36

I’m thankful I was at school that day and knew where my family was. I feel for the people who had loved ones traveling. My family went to Disney World for the 1st time 2 months before 9/11. In that short time airport security as I’m sure you know changed immensely.

Viggen > Scary__goongala!
09/13/2015 at 22:27

I was in third grade that day. We had a full day of school and I don’t remember noticing any change in our teacher’s moods. I got off the bus and hopped into my dad’s Blazer. The radio was on, which I found odd. He asked if I’d heard about what happened, and I said I hadn’t. He tried to explain to me but I wasn’t able to piece it together. It wasn’t until I’d walked into the living room where the TV was still on when I saw it. The moment I’d walked in they were showing a replay of the South Tower collapsing. That whole night that’s what I watched. For a third grader, I was fairly aware and knew we’d go to war. I remember that whole night while trying to go to bed thinking I was hearing jets. Maybe I was. I lived close to a city and there was a chance that F-15As from the 102nd Fighter Wing were flying over at that moment. The next morning I woke up early and heard the TV on in my parent’s bedroom. My mom had the news on. I was amazed that there was still that much smoke and dust coming out from what was now Ground Zero.

I’ve visited Ground Zero four times. The first time, there was still broken glass in the surrounding buildings.

Fast forward to September 11, 2013 and I was in Afghanistan. September 11, 2001 was the reason I enlisted. The anger, desire for revenge. The possibilty of reaching closure. I stood out on the flightline behind our hangar that evening and watched the sunset. A pebble had found its way onto the tarmac and that night I unleashed twelve years of pent up anger as I kicked it across the flightline into the sand. Was that the closure I had desired? I wish it was, but every time I see a picture of the WTC, I remember, and the anger returns.