Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
At home on an email group chat, and a chat friend told us to turn on the TV; hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
Alone in the office. The phone rings, and I answer it. It’s a friend, asking about a Broadway event. John comes in and we nod to each other. He goes to his office, and the other line rings. He answers. I finish my call. He comes into my office and says “Turn on the TV. A plane just hit the World Trade Tower.” I turn on the TV. No TV. I got to the radio in the back and turn it on. Curtis Sliwa announces “Oh My God. Another planer hit the second tower.” I take the radio to my office, keep it turned on, and call every employee, telling them to cancel for today.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
At home on an email group chat, and a chat friend told us to turn on the TV; hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
At home on an email group chat, and a chat friend told us to turn on the TV; hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
At work. We ended up watching the news in a coworker’s cube. I didn’t know it at the time, but the girlfriend of one of my other coworkers was on one of the planes.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
At home on an email group chat, and a chat friend told us to turn on the TV; hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
Just getting up and turning on TV when my Dad called. He mentioned that something had just hit one of the towers. I turned to CNN and they were just picking it up. They weren’t even sure what it was, maybe a small plane or news helicopter… then the eyewitness reports started pouring in… and then the second plane… and so on… it was the saddest most horrifying thing I have ever seen.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
At home on an email group chat, and a chat friend told us to turn on the TV; hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
At work. We ended up watching the news in a coworker’s cube. I didn’t know it at the time, but the girlfriend of one of my other coworkers was on one of the planes.
Just getting up and turning on TV when my Dad called. He mentioned that something had just hit one of the towers. I turned to CNN and they were just picking it up. They weren’t even sure what it was, maybe a small plane or news helicopter… then the eyewitness reports started pouring in… and then the second plane… and so on… it was the saddest most horrifying thing I have ever seen.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
At home on an email group chat, and a chat friend told us to turn on the TV; hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
At work. We ended up watching the news in a coworker’s cube. I didn’t know it at the time, but the girlfriend of one of my other coworkers was on one of the planes.
Just getting up and turning on TV when my Dad called. He mentioned that something had just hit one of the towers. I turned to CNN and they were just picking it up. They weren’t even sure what it was, maybe a small plane or news helicopter… then the eyewitness reports started pouring in… and then the second plane… and so on… it was the saddest most horrifying thing I have ever seen.
At court. A bailiff wheeled out a small TV into the judges’ outer office for us to watch the news coverage. A deputy sheriff came along a few minutes later, very brisk, and announced that the courthouse was being evacuated. Walked down about 20 flights of stairs (still don’t know why they shut down the elevators), drove home and hugged my wife and two young sons extra hard. I remember thinking it was a remarkably beautiful early-fall day to have had something so awful happen.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
At home on an email group chat, and a chat friend told us to turn on the TV; hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
At work. We ended up watching the news in a coworker’s cube. I didn’t know it at the time, but the girlfriend of one of my other coworkers was on one of the planes.
Just getting up and turning on TV when my Dad called. He mentioned that something had just hit one of the towers. I turned to CNN and they were just picking it up. They weren’t even sure what it was, maybe a small plane or news helicopter… then the eyewitness reports started pouring in… and then the second plane… and so on… it was the saddest most horrifying thing I have ever seen.
At court. A bailiff wheeled out a small TV into the judges’ outer office for us to watch the news coverage. A deputy sheriff came along a few minutes later, very brisk, and announced that the courthouse was being evacuated. Walked down about 20 flights of stairs (still don’t know why they shut down the elevators), drove home and hugged my wife and two young sons extra hard. I remember thinking it was a remarkably beautiful early-fall day to have had something so awful happen.
I was home that day, since it was my then 3 year old daughter’s first day of Junior Kindergarten. She hopped on that school bus with such pride and purpose in her step it was really heartwarming… And then we saw the aftermath of the first strike on CNN, and watched live as the second plane hit. After the towers fell I went outside and cut the lawn just to keep busy. It was shocking, and I kept looking to the south-east fully expecting to see smoke in the air from some 400 miles away.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
(added Annie-Xmas, #7, renumbered posts and put some details in my post #1)
At home on an email group chat, and chat friends in Seattle and British Columbia told us “turn on the TV everyone, it’s horrible!” A couple of minutes after I turned it on I saw the 2nd plane hit the tower and fell on my knees in shock, and prayed. (Fortunately we had thick carpet) I had to stop myself from crying because I didn’t want to scare my kids who were ages 3 and 1. Hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
Alone in the office. The phone rings, and I answer it. It’s a friend, asking about a Broadway event. John comes in and we nod to each other. He goes to his office, and the other line rings. He answers. I finish my call. He comes into my office and says “Turn on the TV. A plane just hit the World Trade Tower.” I turn on the TV. No TV. I got to the radio in the back and turn it on. Curtis Sliwa announces “Oh My God. Another planer hit the second tower.” I take the radio to my office, keep it turned on, and call every employee, telling them to cancel for today.
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
At work. We ended up watching the news in a coworker’s cube. I didn’t know it at the time, but the girlfriend of one of my other coworkers was on one of the planes.
Just getting up and turning on TV when my Dad called. He mentioned that something had just hit one of the towers. I turned to CNN and they were just picking it up. They weren’t even sure what it was, maybe a small plane or news helicopter… then the eyewitness reports started pouring in… and then the second plane… and so on… it was the saddest most horrifying thing I have ever seen.
At court. A bailiff wheeled out a small TV into the judges’ outer office for us to watch the news coverage. A deputy sheriff came along a few minutes later, very brisk, and announced that the courthouse was being evacuated. Walked down about 20 flights of stairs (still don’t know why they shut down the elevators), drove home and hugged my wife and two young sons extra hard. I remember thinking it was a remarkably beautiful early-fall day to have had something so awful happen.
I was home that day, since it was my then 3 year old daughter’s first day of Junior Kindergarten. She hopped on that school bus with such pride and purpose in her step it was really heartwarming… And then we saw the aftermath of the first strike on CNN, and watched live as the second plane hit. After the towers fell I went outside and cut the lawn just to keep busy. It was shocking, and I kept looking to the south-east fully expecting to see smoke in the air from some 400 miles away.
Remembering 9/11/01, 16 years later: where you were when you heard about it
(added Annie-Xmas, #7, renumbered posts and put some details in my post #1)
At home on an email group chat, and chat friends in Seattle and British Columbia told us “turn on the TV everyone, it’s horrible!” A couple of minutes after I turned it on I saw the 2nd plane hit the tower and fell on my knees in shock, and prayed. (Fortunately we had thick carpet) I had to stop myself from crying because I didn’t want to scare my kids who were ages 3 and 1. Hubby was at work 6 miles from WTC and saw the smoke out the window
At home sick after workplace injury. Woke up and came in to living room just before second plane hit WTC. Talking heads on TV suddenly changed from speculation about an accident to something much more serious.
A neighbor knocked on my door to tell me to turn on TV (which I would never have on in the daytime), I saw the second plane hit live. Just before that I had just posted a sports forum response to a poster writing from his desk in the WTC, and he died there.
My wife and I were on the west coast, at home and asleep in bed, and the clock radio came on. KNBR 680AM, Gary Radnich on the radio, and as we’re in a slow waking haze his tone was different, and then we heard what he was saying, and we turned on the TV.
NOTE: The day before, on 9/10/2001, my 3 kids took the same flights as Mohamed Atta did from Portland, Maine to Boston, and then American Flight 11 from Boston to LAX. They then flew LAX to SFO where I picked them up.
In the break room at work. A group of employees gathered around a tv watching the news. It was the first and last time I ever saw that break room tv actually used
At my computer station at work. My coworkers immediately started swearing revenge; my first reaction was frustration at the attackers because I swiftly realized the USA’d be swept up in a fresh jingoistic fervor, and Madame P.'s first reaction was “Oh, the poor people!”
Alone in the office. The phone rings, and I answer it. It’s a friend, asking about a Broadway event. John comes in and we nod to each other. He goes to his office, and the other line rings. He answers. I finish my call. He comes into my office and says “Turn on the TV. A plane just hit the World Trade Tower.” I turn on the TV. No TV. I got to the radio in the back and turn it on. Curtis Sliwa announces “Oh My God. Another planer hit the second tower.” I take the radio to my office, keep it turned on, and call every employee, telling them to cancel for today.
At work. I heard one of my coworkers say a plane flew into the WTC tower. I thought he meant a Cessna accident, which had happened several times before. Then we found out what really happened, and gathered into one room to watch the news and saw the 2nd tower come down. I remember driving home that evening and not seeing a plane in the sky, which seemed so weird to me.
At work. We ended up watching the news in a coworker’s cube. I didn’t know it at the time, but the girlfriend of one of my other coworkers was on one of the planes.
Just getting up and turning on TV when my Dad called. He mentioned that something had just hit one of the towers. I turned to CNN and they were just picking it up. They weren’t even sure what it was, maybe a small plane or news helicopter… then the eyewitness reports started pouring in… and then the second plane… and so on… it was the saddest most horrifying thing I have ever seen.
At court. A bailiff wheeled out a small TV into the judges’ outer office for us to watch the news coverage. A deputy sheriff came along a few minutes later, very brisk, and announced that the courthouse was being evacuated. Walked down about 20 flights of stairs (still don’t know why they shut down the elevators), drove home and hugged my wife and two young sons extra hard. I remember thinking it was a remarkably beautiful early-fall day to have had something so awful happen.
I was home that day, since it was my then 3 year old daughter’s first day of Junior Kindergarten. She hopped on that school bus with such pride and purpose in her step it was really heartwarming… And then we saw the aftermath of the first strike on CNN, and watched live as the second plane hit. After the towers fell I went outside and cut the lawn just to keep busy. It was shocking, and I kept looking to the south-east fully expecting to see smoke in the air from some 400 miles away.
Working at my office job. My cube neighbor used to keep a small tv under his desk to surreptitiously watch Cubs games on slow afternoons. I watched the second tower go down on this set, a grainy, static-filled over-the-air signal —it made it seem that much more impossible and unreal. Notwithstanding all the work I had to do, I spent the rest of the day trying to get information online. The only site posting updates that hadn’t been swamped was Fark. I finally left work around an hour early; there was no point in pretending to get anything done.
New:
In honor of the group sex scene cut from the film version of IT, other famous book scenes/subplots not carried over to the movie versions.