Tomatopuree asked where we where five years ago when the planes hit the Twin Towers... On September 11th, 2001, I had stayed home as I was not feeling well. I was laying in bed, mostly asleep, when R opened the door to the bedroom and I woke up. He looked... horrified. I asked him what was wrong and he could not say. Tears started and he walked out the door and closed it behind him. I ran out the door only to find him sitting at the top of the stairs. He tried to tell me what was wrong, but he just went down the stairs to the TV and we both watched as the second plane hi. And we spent the rest of the day, watching, as the towers burned and fell, and took the people with them. The people on the streets, cried out and ran for their lives, the firefighters and police ran into the rubble, that burning heap, those collapsed buildings and tried to save who they could. I watched as they reported that another plane had hit the pentagon and another had crashed, trying to fly to Washington, maybe the White house. Courageous people had taken that one down, and in doing so, had given their lives for so many others. They had sacrificed themselves so that so many other people did not have to die. They made calls to their loved ones, to say goodbye and that they were loved. And then they charged the cockpit and......died. I am Canadian, but I live in the US. I saw as people who did not know one another, cry together. I watched Canadians come across that border and held Americans in their arms and wept with them. I went to a memorial service and watched, Arabs, Indians, Americans, Canadians, English, Australians, French, men, women and children, hold hands with each other, strangers, and cried and prayed and wondered how this could have happened. It has been five years, but I remember it like it was yesterday. it changed the world as we know it.
Five Years ago...
11.9.06 13:39
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Katja / Website (11.9.06 14:07) One of those days when you know exactly where you were when you heard the news. I was at home waiting for my piano tuner to come round and my friend had just had her first baby that morning. |
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undercovercookie / Website (11.9.06 15:32) it's called 'flashbulb memory' no one quite understands how it works but they reckon the amygdala (processing emotion) goes ballistic and starts telling the brain "SHIT, I'm mega excited right now and I don't know what just happened but record as much of this stuff as you can cos I think its important" so the brain dutifully jots down everything it can and lays down comprehensive memory because the hyper-excited amygdala says so. |
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Katja / Website (11.9.06 15:41) Ooh, interesting stuff, Cookie. The brain is ever such a strange and fascinating thing. |
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digital femme / Website (10.10.06 06:32) Yes indeed that day has certainly changed the world. It has also changed my thinking about people and life and loving. Sad to think that something to tragic could spur moments of greatness. But it has always been that way in history, something we cannot fully understand but have learned to adjust to, or not. I hope you are well. I know you are very busy with the little princess .. who must be more beautiful and delightful as ever! miss you. |
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