Thursday, September 11, 2008

What a Difference a Day Makes

Natalie called this morning and said, "It's 9/11."  I hadn't even realized.  I remember so clearly that day seven  years ago.  I was hanging out at Natalie's with the kids and I remember Anjie being there too. I don't know how we found out about it, but we turned on the news and were horrified and moved to tears.  Of course, it seemed surreal and unbelievable and it was hard to wrap my mind around the magnitude of what had actually taken place.  The thing I remember most vividly, however, was the perspective I gained that day.  I had found out the day before in an ultrasound, that my baby of 11 weeks had died, so I was feeling pretty depressed.  Watching the towers on fire, and the trauma taking place in New York, made me look at my own sadness and disappointment in a whole different light.  I will always remember 9/11 as the day after I lost my third baby and when America lost so many.

What do you remember?

13 comments:

Mitch said...

I came home really quick after seminary to get something from the house and mom said "come here, look at this!" At that time only one plane had hit so we just thought it was pretty crazy. I thought it was sad that it crashed but it didn't really hit me hard. As mom was blow drying her hair i was right behind her watching the news on the little blue tv in her room and watched a the second plane hit. I said "what the hell?! A second plane just hit!" Mom said "WHAT?!?! NOOO!!!!!" I hadn't even heard about terrorism so i just thought it was crazy random that TWO planes would hit the same spot. It didn't really sink in what had happened until i went to my first period and realized how crazy and scary it all was. The whole morning seems so dang vivid. It's pretty nuts how it's so hard to remember certain things but EVERYONE remembers where they were and exactly what they were doing that morning.

Lauralee said...

oh I remember.. I remember how scary it was!

I didn't know you lost a child.. so sorry..

Ann Marie said...

I remember I was laying in bed with my now oldest daughter that was only 6 months old.. My friend Katie called me and woke me up, and told me all about it.. I was glued to the TV the rest of the day...
I remember thinking what world did I bring my baby into? What's she going to go through in her life??

I am grateful you shared such a personal tidbit of your life with us. It's always good to see that people are "real" and have had trials and experiences that are relatable.
I'm sorry you had to go through a small Gethsemane... :(

Me said...

As Ann said, one of the first things I did was call her. I remember though that my son was only about 4 months old and I had had a really bad night with him. I had finally got back to sleep after my husband had left when he called not even a 1/2 hour later to tell about it. I thought he was joking and got really mad until I turned on the tv. I was in shock for days I think. Since I'm in the airline industry, that day has changed my life in more ways then one. Nothing will ever be the same.

I am so sorry to hear about your loss and the timing of it all. That was a tragic day for alot of people.

My mom always said that anyone alive when Kennedy was shot knows exactly what they were doing when they heard the news-I never thought I'd be able to relate, until that day.

Sarah Jane said...

oh I am so sorry about that...what a big week for you. I just remember being terrified about DC and the pentagon. The phone lines were jammed for about 8 hours, and I couldn't call my family. My dad was working for the government at the time, and I couldn't get through. We also didn't have TV. That night, we went out and bought a cable. It was the end of the world...and we had to be in on it.

SaraBerry said...

I was at home. I had just gotten my triplets off to Kindergarten, and was playing with Alivia in the living room, when Scott called from Seminary and said that I needed to turn on the TV and watch the news. (I HATE the news) So I grudgingly turned on the TV and was there all day. Crying and praying. My friend's, from High School and College, husband was killed in the Pentagon. It truly was a day I will never forget! I think that is the day that really got the wheels turning for Scott to join the Army. I am amazed at the strength and patriotism of all the branches of our great military. I appreciate their willingness to protect us. I saw a Vietnam Vet a while ago. I stopped him and told him Thank you for serving our country. He started to Cry. Big , uncontrollable sobs. He said that he doesn't hear that very often. Thank a Veteran today! Love ya!

Elisa said...

So touching. It was a sad/scary/confusing time for sure. I am so sorry about your baby.

Jayne Layne said...

I remember that I was woken up by a roommate. I then realized I was late for hairschool, so I didn't really get to see much on the news. I wasn't sure exactly what was happening, but I knew it was bad. We then had a huge discussion about what was happening while Steve Michaels was showing us a new cut. I thought 20,000 people had died. I think I was able to see it on TV I would have had a better understanding of everything. I do remember the day to be a dark, dreary, and frightening one. One where you think... What now?

JENNIFRO said...

Oh gosh---I DID NOT word that right!! I was writing while watching a movie and Nick was hounding me to hurry so I obviously did not make the point that is was
at the doctor's office I learned the baby had died 11 weeks in utero. You are all VERY nice with your comments! I was sad but nothing like losing a baby that had been born. Just thought I should clarify ; )

Unknown said...

That was a completely weird day for me. I was pulling out of the drive way heading into work and my husband called me. I went into work and they wanted us to act like nothing was happening and continue with our daily jobs. I was like "are you kidding me?" The world is falling apart and you want me to try and find someone a job. My friend next to me was upset because she had a close friend that worked at the Pentagon that she could not get a hold of. I went home and had an appointment for a pedicure later that afternoon and they would not let me cancel it. I was told to use it or lose it. So I sat in a chair with a girl massaging my feet while the world felt like it was falling apart. And that was really weird. I did get a chance to call my parents who lived in Alaska that time and my mom was having the hardest time understanding what I was trying to tell her. One crazy day!

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your child. I have not been through the experience myself, but I have been with a friend and grieved with her when she did. My heart goes out to you and thank you for sharing a tender moment of your life!
-Suzanne

browneyedgirl said...

I was sitting waiting for my 2nd college class to begin (for that day) when my friend came in and told me the news. I was in shock, and thought how bizarre that was. I had to sit through the a few more classes and I was unable to focus, since I was worried about my father and unsure where he was at that particular morning(given the nature of his job--with the second plane hitting the Pentagon) and I didn't get a chance to talk to my mom until later that afternoon and I was so grateful to find out he was on a business trip in the midwest. I remember watching it over and over (the plane hit) on the television screen of our neighbors, stunned and in disbelief. Since they grounded all of the planes my dad and his coworker decided to drive home. They drove through the night and got home much sooner than if he waited for a flight (he didn't like the idea of being stranded there). He surprised my mom and brothers by arriving home the very next day!

Unknown said...

I was in a conference room at work about two blocks from the White House. A colleague went outside after the twin towers were struck and saw the explosion of the plane hitting the Pentagon. Traffic was madness, and everyone was somber. Pretty sobering to think that it's all just a political game to some people now. Thanks for the reminder.

jill said...

That was SO scary! I was at Presidio and we were all watching it on the TV. We couldn't believe it when the second one hit. The President released us early, I just remember thinking the world was coming to an end. I remember buying like eight granola bars from the vending machine in case I was in traffic forever. I remember after that I couldn't sleep I'd sleep walk etc... it was a really hard time for me, what's more is I think that's around the time Elizabeth Smart went missing, I felt bombarded with anxiety and fear. Luckily we had President Hinckley, his positive words and ways really helped me.

Sarah, that story about the Vet made me cry, that's so touching/sad.