My 9/11 Story

[Scottler]

This was discussed a while back, and I just kept putting it off.  Fortunately, I was able to complete it in time for 9/11/03, although it's not nearly as nice as I'd hoped.  I'll work on it as time goes by.

I've posted my September 11th story for anyone who is interested.

Remember, this is simply my way of sharing my experiences with anyone who would like to read them.  It's not intended in any way to stir up any debates, or anything else that could happen.

It's located at http://geocities.com/mystoryof911

(Stupid name, I know.  All the good ones were changed.)

Fly2E (aka Dave) and I were going to put his photos up to accompany it, but because of my own procrastination, I didn't get the site done in time to do so.  Perhaps that will also come later.

[OTTOL]

I don't know if you intended this as an OPEN topic, and if not , my apologies. I don't think I'll go into detail about my own personal experience. I may not go 19pages!(that's not a cheap shot Scott, it was very beautifully written!), but I might still load up a few pages, as well. So just a few of my own quick experiences.
My wife began labor with our, now, two year old daughter, just before midnight, on Sep 11th. I had been glued to the TV all day. I'm a pilot, so obviously I wasn't going anywhere at that point. When my wife waddled into the living room and meekly exclaimed "hey honey, I think my water just broke", I had just shut off the TV, to go to bed. In other words, I was exhausted from a chaotic day, and the timing couldn't have been worse! She gave birth 10hours later. So for me, my daughter's BIRTH was bitter sweet.
I don't know if this is true, but I've been told that the  number of births in the US exceeded the general daily average by several thousand  that day. I'm not a very religious person, but what a beautifully thought provoking idea.

[Paz]

[loomex]

Scott
That was well written. I am sure everybody knows where they were and what the were doing. I was home watching the Disney channel with my son. My wife and myself had no idea what was happening a mere 300 miles away. My son's speech therapest  came in the house and said that today was a crazy day. She then mentioned the first plane hitting the tower. I turned on the tv just in time to watch the second plane hit  and the rest is history.

[Scottler]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

That day means so many different things for so many different people.  I'm not going to say "No, you can't reply."  To do so would be heartless, on this topic especially.

I put this link here for you all because some of you had expressed an interest in reading it, that's all.  (Whether you do or not is up to you individually.)

[Craig.]

very well written scott.
most of you know how that day started for me, woke up and was just eating breakfast as news of the first tower being hit, was broadcast, many of the reports believing it was an accident, but  then a few minutes later like millions of others watching in disbelief as the second hit, and it being the realisation that this wasnt an accident, which was roughly this time at which the second plane hit

[RIC_BARKER]

Nicely written Scott.

I'd only been to New York City once before that day, in February of 2001. My day was also filled with memories of the WTC and NYC as I saw the places I'd been, smashed and crushed on TV. I too have had a hot dog from that same place, and I've also got a penny with the WTC stamped in it. Even though I'd only been there for a week, I felt like I knew the place and the people, and as such, it felt all the more profound for watching it live on TV.

I've kept all the memorobilia that I collected on that trip. Tickets to the top of the towers, photos, my penny, newspapers. I hope to give it to my children one day (when I have any) to make sure the memory lives on.

I don't know what else to say  :'(

Ric B.

[Scottler]

Ric_Barker, I'm envious.  Unfortunately, I took my visits to the Trade Center for granted, and I never kept a single thing from my trips there.  God, there were just so many of them.  I never thought I'd not be able to go there, ya know?

I'm currently looking at some pennies which the owner CLAIMS are from the press up at the top.  If I can verify the authenticity of them, then I might just pick one up.

Unfortunately, all I've got to show for my trips there are a lot of memories, which are scattered and seemingly random.  It's weird.  I will have totally forgotten about something and all of a sudden it will come back to me, completely out of nowhere.  A smell, a sound, a sight, a face...

Hold on to your treasures.  You've got something tangible to keep this fresh in your mind.  I've got my memories, some terrible photos I took when I was like 10, and that's about it.  

[RIC_BARKER]

If you want to verify the pennies you're looking at are genuine, I'll post a pic of mine here if you like, no problem.

Ric B.

[Scottler]

oooh, good idea.

[Fly2e]

Here is the link to some pictures I shot at ground zero.
Sorry Scott and I could not get it all together in time.

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 27;start=0

Dave

[Travis]

Scott, that is one of the most moving things I have ever read about 9/11.

[Scottler]

Thanks again guys.  It's funny, because I never intended to write a story about it.

I just started jotting down notes about that day so that I'd have something to relate to my future children and grandchildren when they learn about that day in school.

Before I knew what happened, that's what had come out.  One thing I'm proud of about it is that you can really (IMHO) feel every emotion I wrote about.  You can feel the panic, the confusion, the anger...

People have always told me I'm a good writer, but I'd never thought that any of my stuff was any good.  This one I'm proud of though.  

[Lurch]

Scott,

Thats the most moving account I have ever read about what happened.

I remember I was home on leave catching up with a friend,and,the radio was on.Of course being an aviation nut I caught the breaking news and put the tv on in time to see the second plane hit.It's something I will never forget.I couldn't believe how many people from South Africa offered services and goods for a place half way round the world that most of us had never seen before.

[RIC_BARKER]

No Luck on the coin as yet, it's in a box in my roofspace - I'll be buggered if I'm clambering up there tonight!  ;D

Here is a quick pick of my ticket, which was easier to lay my hands on. I'll try and sort out the coin for you tomorrow, time permitting.

Ric B.