I've watched several television documentaries lately that looked back on 9/11. Can it really be ten years since it happened? Sometimes it seems like it was longer and sometimes it seems like just a couple years.
Back then, it was my habit to turn on the TV as soon as I got up and watch Good Morning America while I got ready for work. On that day, as I watched, I saw footage of the planes hitting the towers. In my mind, I remember watching the first tower burning and then seeing the second plane hit, but now I wonder if that was live or a replay of earlier footage. Before I left for work, both towers had fallen. It all seemed surreal--it still does in many ways. And, of course, there was the third plane that hit the Pentagon and the fourth plane that crashed before hitting a target.
On Saturday, our stitchery group spent the day together and we could hear the planes from a nearby air show--the sound, which was very loud at times, was quite startling at first, particularly since this was just a day before the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attack and that's been on our minds.
A few years after 9/11, I painted the top of a bookcase in my bedroom with star quilt blocks. This was one of the blocks I painted:
It's hard to see, but the top left corner has a 9 and the top right corner has an 11. I never made a 9/11 memorial quilt, so I suppose this is my memorial to the tragedy. Of course, I don't think any of us who were around then need anything to remind us--we'll always remember.
What were you doing on 9/11? Did you make a memorial quilt or anything else?
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11 comments:
In the first couple of days after 9/11 during work I had the urge to go get a smallish eagle w/flag tattoo with the word veteran in it (my 1st husband and I joined the Army together in 1976). My boss wouldn't let me leave early that day so instead of a tattoo I painted the louvers on my Honda hatchback in a flag.
I was on vacation and shopping at Polly's Fabrics in Jackson, MS. I will never forget the stunned silence of those in the store.
I live in Western NY. I hadn't been at work very long when it happened. I live close to work and we all went to my house to watch TV at lunch time. The first thing I did when I got home was put our flag at half mast.
I'm a U.S. Citizen living in Canada. My province, Newfoundland, took in over 80 of the planes that were refused entrance into the US when this happened. I couldn'd believe how generous the people here were, and how much they treated it as an attack on themselves also, even though they are Canadians.
I wasn't sewing back then but I will never forget that day. Sitting at work and getting updates from my aunt by phone who was home watching the TV because the internet was just clogged with traffic. We will always remember.
I was in my classroom full of fourth graders. It was only at recess about 9:30 that I found out. We had to make the decision of what to tell the kids. It is a day I'll always remember just like other important days in history that I've lived through. I did not make anything to commemorate the tragedy.
I was in Alaska and had arranged to scatter my dad's ashes that day by plane - needless to say, it didn't happen for some time. My husband and I got so sad watching the newscast that by the afternoon we popped in a disney movie (staying at out daughters condo) just to "escape" the sadness.
Like the other Kim, I was in a classroom of ninth graders when another teacher knocked on my door and told me what had happened. Trying to explain it to kids who had family working at the Pentagon was challenging. It was the dear young lady who asked, "didn't the hijackers know they would be killed if they did this?" and "why did they do it?" that I will never forget.
My son was born the day before! I was in the hospital and watching live as it happened. I called home and asked my husband if he was watching and he went into my Mother's room to watch with her!
I am watching some of the 9/11 Memorial Service on CNN. I woke up this morning thinking of where I was and what I was doing 10 years ago today when I found the world falling apart before my eyes. I remember watching the TV seeing the towers being hit. Hearing the screaming and crying of the people in disbelief that this could be happening in our country. I remember wanting to rush to school to get my children to bring them close to me. I remember the long lines at the gas stations filling up our cars and seeing the gas prices climb and being so scared. I remember thinking that I would never be the same after that day and not ever take my blessings for granted again.
On 9/11 I was living and working just 12 miles west of Manhattan. I spent the day waiting to hear whether friends and acquaintances had survived. Not something I'm fond of reliving once a year.
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