it was a crystal blue morning....

[pomtzu]

I was in my office and on the phone with a client in TX. She was working from home and had her t.v. on and said a plane had hit the WTC. We speculated about how big a plane - she thought a commuter plane. After the conversation was over, I went into the kitchen at work and turned on the t.v. and saw the horror unfolding, and by that time, many of my co-workers were streaming in since they were getting word of it too.

My boss called in to me a short time later, wanting to know what was going on. He was stuck on a plane waiting to take off from Baltimore, and none of the passengers were being told exactly what the problem was. As I was speaking with him, I learned the Pentagon was hit.

Such a terribly sad day for all mankind - one you wish you could forget. Those images are burned into my mind, and nothing short of my own demise, will make them go away.

Peace to all - to those who perished, the injured survivors, and the loved ones of all of them.
May God protect us all..............

[Catherinedana]

I was born and raised in Brooklyn NY, worked in Manhattan for many years and my former husband actually worked in the WTC before we moved to FL. It had been an emotional, confusing morning already because my mom went to the hospital in an emergency situation, my husband was in or on his way to Boston for business and I couldn't get in touch with him and I was actually home from work that day. I was talking on the phone with my sister trying to find out what was going on with my mom and heard about the first attack on the news. They didn't actually know what was going on yet. Then the second plane hit and everything became different in my entire life. It was like they crashed it right into my heart. . .this is my hometown and I knew people who worked in and around that area. I still had some family there and couldn't get in touch. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I recently found out that a childhood friend of my lost her husband who was a firefighter in the 9/11 attack. I have tried to get in touch with her to no avail but I hope that one day I will see her again and give her the hug that is waiting for her.

My heart is back in NYC today.

Cathy

[Sonia59]

I was at work, it was the afternoon and someone heard the news about the first plane on the radio. I tried to search for more info on Internet. When I came back home I watched the news on TV and saw the images! It was so unbelievable. That day and the days after, I think we all felt very close to our American friends, wherever we were in the world.

[Pinot's Mom]

I was at work, on the phone with my very favorite customer, and he said, "Oh my God they flew a plane into the World Trade Center!". We both got off the phone in shock. I had my computer up with the internet minimized and restored the screen to CNN.com - it was the only computer in the building able to access; the sites were jammed, but mine was already up, so I just kept it there all day. We just couldn't believe all that was happening. All those people...

When we saw the people fleeing in all that debris, one of the first things my husband and I could think of was his Aunt Gussie. She lives alone in Brooklyn and, at the time, was 85; we couldn't get through to her for days. We knew the debris affected all the way to Brooklyn. Turned out she was (and is) OK.

I am deeply sorry for all the victims and their families; still. Those scars will not fade any time soon.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I was washing dog dishes at the vet clinic and listening to the radio. The first plane hit and everyone thought it was a stange airline accident. Then the 2nd plane hit the other tower and everyone knew it was not a coincidence. I stopped what I was doing and migrated to the front lobby where the TV was and saw images of the Pentagon in flames. It was very scary, even though I was 1000 miles away. After all of the TV coverage became monotonous and I turned it off it was still eerily solemn, even outside- I lived near a military base and was suddenly made aware of what it was like to NOT have planes flying over on a regular basis. Even the military was grounded and the silence was deafening.

If anyone has a chance to watch "102 minutes that changed America", please watch it! It was comprised entirely of personal video footage shot by New Yorkers as the events were unfolding. There is no commentary other than what everyday individuals were saying as they were filming. You really get a sense of the confusion and fear of the situation.

EDIT: looks like it will air tonight on the History channel

[Lady's Human]

I was in my living room with LOH and our 3 week old daughter.

I was getting ready to go back to work that afternoon, as I had taken some time off from work for MJ's welcome home/welcome to the world.

We were sitting watching a movie, and the phone rang.

It was Karen, wanting to know if I had heard from the Army. Huh? Yeah, we're at war.

Huh?

She told me to turn on CNN, I did, and after a few minutes of conversation I called my unit to report in.

[joycenalex]

this is from an internet article, care2.com...... The only dog to lose his life in the disaster was a Yellow Labrador Retriever named Sirius. He worked for the Port Authority as a bomb-detection dog alongside his partner Sergeant David Lim. Lim and Sirius were in the basement of the South Tower when the North Tower was attacked. He put the 4-year-old dog in his kennel and left to check on the situation.
“I told him, I think we’re in a lot of trouble right now,” said Lim, who assumed he and Sirius had somehow failed to detect an explosive. “I said, I’ll be back for you.”
But before Lim could return, the South Tower collapsed followed by the North Tower. Lim was trapped on the fourth floor with six firefighters and an injured woman. They were all safely rescued five hours later.
Lim came back for Sirius as he promised, but it was too late. He continued to look for his partner until eventually – on Jan. 22, 2002 the dog’s remains were uncovered.
The Port Authority held a memorial service in his honor and have since built a memorial at Battery Park with a dog run.
a line of duty death....faithful dog

[Marigold2]

I was at work and my co-worker had the radio on. Once the second plane hit I looked at Sharon and said we are under attack. She looked at me and no sound came out of her mouth.
I ran to the computer, my son was on an Air Craft Carrier headed for the Middle East I know I had only moments to e-mail him before all communcation would be shut down.
I remember my words.
"I know where you are, I know where you are going, be careful, I love you so much"
His ship was the first one there, trying to keep peace. I was so scared for him.
My other son was in boot camp in Texas. I prayed and said "please God don't send them both there" my prayers were answersed. They were both there but at seperate times.
As a mom I had no idea how long or to what extent this would be and I was so afraid for my boys, my country and all that I loved and all living beings man and beast.
Sept 11 is also the day my mom had her car accident 9/11/94, she died on the 22th. Never waking from the coma, I could only hold her hand and talk to her, not knowing if she heard me. Her neck was broken, we had no idea if she would be able to move at all if she awoke. It was hell on earth. The worst time of my life by far. I have always dreaded 9/11.

[Marigold2]

May you never been forgotten Sirius.

this is from an internet article, care2.com...... The only dog to lose his life in the disaster was a Yellow Labrador Retriever named Sirius. He worked for the Port Authority as a bomb-detection dog alongside his partner Sergeant David Lim. Lim and Sirius were in the basement of the South Tower when the North Tower was attacked. He put the 4-year-old dog in his kennel and left to check on the situation.
“I told him, I think we’re in a lot of trouble right now,” said Lim, who assumed he and Sirius had somehow failed to detect an explosive. “I said, I’ll be back for you.”
But before Lim could return, the South Tower collapsed followed by the North Tower. Lim was trapped on the fourth floor with six firefighters and an injured woman. They were all safely rescued five hours later.
Lim came back for Sirius as he promised, but it was too late. He continued to look for his partner until eventually – on Jan. 22, 2002 the dog’s remains were uncovered.
The Port Authority held a memorial service in his honor and have since built a memorial at Battery Park with a dog run.
a line of duty death....faithful dog