Reflection on 9/11
Sep. 11th, 2021 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dizzojayOn this 20th anniversary, I've been thinking about 9/11.
Mr D and I went to New York in April 2001 for my birthday. During our stay, we went up the world trade centre and had a cup of tea and a slice of cake in the restaurant there at the top of one of the towers (I can't remember which one).
There was a nice lady on the till and she was teasing me about being British because I wanted milk with my tea. Then I couldn't find the milk and we had a laugh together. It was one of those 'ships that pass in the night' moments. I didn't know her name and she didn't know mine, but for a brief moment, we connected.
Fast forward six months. I was working at Apple UK at the time. Apple, obviously being an American company. I'd just finished my lunch when I got a text from Mr D. 'You need to get the news up on your internet'. Almost imediately after I'd read his text, I heard a noise across the office. It sounded like a choking howl. A sound of pure anguish that dissolved into someone crying.
I logged onto the internet after the first tower had been hit and about five minues before the second one hit. I watched that one live with wide-eyed horror and disbelief.
By now, there were several people in the office crying. The horror of the towers collapsing was yet to come, but no doubt everyone was thinking of those poor people on the planes, and in the towers where they hit. We were thinking of the amazing and brave emergency services who would be risking their lives in the carnage as we watched.
But most of all, I was thinking of that nice lady in the restaurant. I found myself sitting at my desk, tears rolling down my face, just hoping so hard that this day had been her day off.
Now, 20 years on, we know the full extent of the horror of that day. The workers in the towers, the plane passengers and the emergency services; gone, always loved and always remembered.
Never forget and never be defeated by terrorism.
Sending all good wishes to my chums across the pond on this difficult day.
Mr D and I went to New York in April 2001 for my birthday. During our stay, we went up the world trade centre and had a cup of tea and a slice of cake in the restaurant there at the top of one of the towers (I can't remember which one).
There was a nice lady on the till and she was teasing me about being British because I wanted milk with my tea. Then I couldn't find the milk and we had a laugh together. It was one of those 'ships that pass in the night' moments. I didn't know her name and she didn't know mine, but for a brief moment, we connected.
Fast forward six months. I was working at Apple UK at the time. Apple, obviously being an American company. I'd just finished my lunch when I got a text from Mr D. 'You need to get the news up on your internet'. Almost imediately after I'd read his text, I heard a noise across the office. It sounded like a choking howl. A sound of pure anguish that dissolved into someone crying.
I logged onto the internet after the first tower had been hit and about five minues before the second one hit. I watched that one live with wide-eyed horror and disbelief.
By now, there were several people in the office crying. The horror of the towers collapsing was yet to come, but no doubt everyone was thinking of those poor people on the planes, and in the towers where they hit. We were thinking of the amazing and brave emergency services who would be risking their lives in the carnage as we watched.
But most of all, I was thinking of that nice lady in the restaurant. I found myself sitting at my desk, tears rolling down my face, just hoping so hard that this day had been her day off.
Now, 20 years on, we know the full extent of the horror of that day. The workers in the towers, the plane passengers and the emergency services; gone, always loved and always remembered.
Never forget and never be defeated by terrorism.
Sending all good wishes to my chums across the pond on this difficult day.
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no subject
Date: 2021-09-24 10:14 pm (UTC)It's hard to believe that horrible day was 20 years ago already. I remember everything that happened that day very clearly. Everyone in my office was glued to the TV, hard to watch, yet hard to pull yourself away. For me and my brothers, my parents were in Holland at the time. They were due to fly back the next day. Needless to say, their flight got delayed about a week. I felt like I couldn't breathe until they were home. The hard part of it was my mother was on very particular medications and she only had enough to last her for the time they were away. Thankfully they were able to procure some extra meds in Amsterdam. Speaking the language also helped, although most everyone there speaks at least a little English. I was very relieved when I greeted them home at the airport. Never more happy to see my parents than that day.