September 11, 2008 10:46 AM
9/11 Where were you?
On September 11, 2001 we were living in California. I'd gotten up at 6:30 to start the day and get my boys off to school (St. Vincent's Catholic High School in Petaluma). Everything was habit: a stop in the laundry room to put in a load of laundry, then to the kitchen to start the coffee, reaching for the radio dial to tune in the morning news.
That's when reality kicked in. Instead of our local radio hosts, the voice of Peter Jennings. I went into the family room to turn on the TV (our TV hookup has always been on-again/off again, but it happened to be on that month) and this is what I saw:
Somewhere in there the kids got up and we watched in disbelief as one event shattered our nation. Obama supported talk today about before Obama/after Obama. What we need to remember is that 9/11 was the date which should be our reference point for American politics.
I cried driving the kids to school, cried as I sat riveted to the news and the shots of people suffering not knowing what had happened to their loved ones, reports of first-response teams killed en masse, stories of bravery like the passengers who rushed the terrorists, bringing down Flight 93 in Pennsylvania wilderness to save the lives of others.
As the mother of four teenage sons trying to raise them as strong men and responsible leaders, my focus was on profiles in courage that day. I heard the story of Todd Beamer, whose last words were: "Are you guys ready? Let's roll." and wrote this very personal response:
I watched in amazement as our usually posturing, ridiculously divisive politicians - even the most anti-American - joined to sing God bless America:
Within days the Democrats began to politicize the event, blaming Bush, pushing him to do something, then criticizing him when he did.
And of course, this feeling of being united as Americans was quickly undercut by the American Mainstream Media, which began criticizing Bush within minutes of the events and quickly banished footage of the terrorist attacks from their repertoire. In the years to come, I couldn't help but notice how they avoided covering terrorist beheadings of Americans with their relentless harping on random incidents of American servicemen and women humiliating terrorist prisoners.
Certainly, you've got to wonder whose side they're really on. And what the talking heads and actors like Matt Damon would do living under a government that would never tolerate their constant betrayals.
It boggles my mind that leftists try to cripple our defense and standing in the world while enjoying the benefits of those who are willing to sacrifice their very lives to guarantee freedom for us all. That they do not see that the reason we have suffered no subsequent attacks is because of Bush's leadership. While I am no fan of Bush's betrayal of conservatives through overspending, he has made our country more secure and safe - despite the constant attacks and ridicule of elitist, cosmopolitan people like Obama and his friends.
If your are reading this and were personally affected by the loss of someone you love because of the 9/11 attacks and America's response, I am so sorry. My prayer is that we will keep the memory of this day - its history and significance - alive and that we will never forget how much we have to be grateful for.
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My memories from that day:
Rushing around that Tuesday morning getting ready for a job interview. Waiting for my Mother in law to come over to watch my 13 month old, it was time to get back to work and was I ready!
Getting the phone call from the man I was supposed to interview with, he saying of course he couldn't make it to DC from NY given what was going on. My embarrassment at not knowing what he was talking about because I was occupying my daughter with Sesame Street while getting ready and hadn't heard any news.
My horror as I turned the channel and saw the first tower fall behind Peter Jennings' right shoulder. My calls to family and friends in NY to check on their safety, some went through others did not.
Pushing my baby girl in the swing in the backyard on a clear, beautiful Tuesday afternoon, noticing how quiet and peaceful it was with no planes flying overhead on the flight paths to/from Dulles.
Somehow knowing, even then, that I wouldn't rejoin the workforce in the financial services field again. Knowing that I would come to learn of the loss of friends. Knowing that everything would be different from then on. Crying most of that day and the days to follow, prayers of Thanksgiving to God that George Bush was our President and not Al Gore, rummaging around in the garage to fix the broken flagpole we had never taken care of after 4th of July and climbing up on the car to put the flag up on the house, praying the Rosary constantly for unstated intentions, just for the Blessed Mother to help us all.
All these years later, with 3 more children and so much more to live through along the way I still tear up when I think about it, and I still get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I see those towers fall. I hope I always will.
Posted by: Danielle | September 11, 2008 1:04 PM
I will never forget that day. I was 29 weeks pregnant with Athena and I was working right on perimeter road behind Miami International Airport. My husband called me to tell me what was going on, I rushed into the conference room and screamed for my boss to come to see - my boss, her assistant and I just stood there crying. I couldn't believe it. We were stuck in our office for fear of a threat to the largest airport in south florida - we were stranded and had to endure police check points for the 2 weeks after the attack. Nothing prepared us for this, nothing prepared me for the realization that this was the future of the world I was about to bring my first born into.
God bless those who were lost, have suffered a loss, and continue to suffer because of these heinous and horrible attacks.
Posted by: Krystal | September 11, 2008 1:12 PM
On September 11th I was pregnant with my first baby, and was at home with my oldest two (step) children laying on my bed watching cartoons. Just a normal morning for us. Then my husband called from work to tell me to turn on the news.
He ended up coming home soon after that, and we spent the day at a friend's, glued to the TV. I remember everyone saying that everything had changed, and that America could never be the same, but I think that while we will NEVER forget, we can go on living safe and free thanks to Bush's leadership and all of the young men and women who have given everything to fight for us. That's something that I hope never changes.
Posted by: Michelle | September 11, 2008 1:35 PM
Thank you so much for keeping us informed of many important events in our country at this time. Thank you so much for these important reminders of 9/11. May we never forget.
Posted by: Karen | September 11, 2008 2:06 PM
i played again at my blog where i was and the people i knew whom were murdered that day.
today i am following both presidential candidates lead and spending the day just reflecting on 9/11. i respect both sides for having the class and sensitivity to spend their day honoring and remembering those lost.
Posted by: laura | September 11, 2008 3:50 PM
Just posted my own recollections...the images still take my breath away...
Posted by: Phyllis @ Aimless Conversation | September 11, 2008 4:28 PM
http://cptkirkenterprise.blogspot.com/2008/09/911.html
PS, I appreciated the pictures of the McCain, Palin rally - I would have liked to have been there, but the pix made up for it.
Blessings
Posted by: Kirk | September 11, 2008 11:53 PM
