I just watched the incredible documentary on CBS. It was done by the two film makers who were there filming a documentary about a NYFD rookie and ended up smack in the middle of the tragedy in NYC.
I watched it crying. Remembering the fear of the day. Remembering watching the plane hit the second tower and then the confusion when the plane hit the Pentagon. Remembering people saying the State Department had been bombed. Remembering people saying the Capitol had been bombed, and running to call my husband who was at home — 7 blocks from the Capitol.
I remember walking home because we had been told Metro had shut down. I remember asking a police officer which way to go. He said to the nearest bar. I had to walk around the White House to get home, and the roads were closed for blocks.
I remember watching a man in a truck block fire trucks trying to get through to the Pentagon. I was at the corner of 7th and Pennsylvania NW. I remember watching the firemen get off their truck and nearly lift the man and his vehicle out of the way.
I remember making it to the Capitol and being overwhelmed with the joy of seeing that building still standing. I remember taking my shoes of and just walking barefoot, because I just couldn’t walk in my high-heeled shoes any more. I remember walking in the door and seeing my husband.
I remember the fear going to work the next day, and the next, and the next — wondering when the hell it was going to happen again.
I remember and I’m afraid to go to work tomorrow.
I remember someone telling me that the WTC had been bombed using planes and thinking it was merely rumor or a bad joke. I remember looking online for credible information and not finding any.
I remember seeing it on TV and thinking that I had seen better special effects in Fight Club, which I had seen on TV the week before. My first reaction was that it was fake. It had to fake…no one would really run two planes into buildings like that.
I remember walking back to my office and just sitting there staring out the window for an hour or so.
I remember crying and being thankful that I could easily walk home to get to my cats. I remember being sad, but a bit thankful, that I didn’t have kids or a husband who I should be concerned about.
I remember wanting to be around people but feeling incredibly isolated.
Yeah… I remember being, ironically, in American History class. I had just come from the front office to switch the times for this class, and walked into the room to see people’s eyes glued to the TV screen. As soon as I took a look, the second plane crashed into the building.
I didn’t hear the announcement to teachers telling them to turn on their TVs because I was walking in the (outdoor) hallways, so I thought it was a movie for a moment. Then I saw CNN at the bottom of the screen…
Scary day.
It’s kind of amazing what all remember about that day. I have a better overall memory of that day than almost any other, except possibly my wedding.