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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
I had just gotten to work and turned the radio on. The man was talking just as the second building was hit. I wasn't sure what was going on, I didn't know if it was real or what was happening. A co-worker was walking down the hall and I said "get in here, I think something is going on." And we listened and it all became clear. Then we just went numb.
It's still extremely hard to think about. And it's even harder to think about the fact that there are people who are glad it happened.
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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kcg5 Inner circle who wants four fried chickens and a coke 1868 Posts |
I am very touched by your stories, and very sorry for your losses.
My experience that day was horrible, but it pales in comparison to others told here. I had family there, yes, but I knew they all lived and worked far from the towers. One thing about that day, after sitting in a room all day, wondering what the hell was happening, hit me hard. I lived in chico, ca at the time, attempting college at that time. I had a place in a large apt complex, and that night, amid drunken yelling about "r#%heads", and other such things, I really thought (and cried) a lot about our country. Then I heard a guitar coming from a garage in the complex, it was playing (hendrix style) the national anthem. never forget.
Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!!!!!
"History will be kind to me, as I intend to write it"- Sir Winston Churchill |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
I was working security at a mall. The radio shack was the busiest place that day (although I doubt it showed in sales) due to they had all the TVs. I remember the store across from Radio Shack had the manager all paranoid because her husband was in NY city at the time. In a weird way I saw how an incident like this really connects people. They forget their petty differences and prejudices and comfort each other. A unique experience which I hope never to see again.
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
I too worked for a printing company that was to close on Oct. 1.
There wasn't much work so we were all hanging out. One guy comes over and says that a plane crashed into the WTC. First thought was that it was a small plane. Later we learned that this was not the case. Since the company was near Rifle Camp Park/Garret Mountain, which has good views of NYC, a co-worker and I drove up to take a look. There were dozens of people there watching the smoke. The cops came asked us all to leave. We walked thru the nature center to leave and on the T.V. we saw the collpse. We were totally stunned. Fopr us, this happening and our company closing, it seemed like the end of times as we knew them. Very scary and sad. |
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Dal Regular user Dallas, TX 124 Posts |
Wrote this in 2001 and I try to share it with others every year on this date...
It was a bad day. It was a very bad week. By now I know that all of you have heard and seen just about all the commentary you can stand about the events of September 11. I personally find it difficult to even type about them by name. I was scheduled to be in San Antonio for the week to perform corporate sponsored school shows. Monday's performances were great and I was getting ready for Tuesday's shows when my bride Cinde called me and told me to turn on the television. I tuned in just in time to see the second plane hit the World Trade Center. I immediately called my sponsor and told them we must cancel the shows for that day--maybe even the week. There was quite a bit of resistance but as the morning progressed they finally saw that I was right and canceled the shows for the rest of the day. I asked the corporate office for suggestions on what to do and no one seemed to know. All I knew was that I had to do something. As I watched the coverage I saw the answer written in the news crawl at the bottom of the screen. San Antonio is a town that hosts several military bases. There are a number of daycare centers near the bases that take care of the children of base employees and military personnel. Since the bases were in lock down mode, these day cares were going to be taking care of children as long as necessary--they would stay open 24 hours if they had to. I know what I had to do. I had to try to entertain these children and help take their minds off of the situation and try to relieve their fears about their parent's safety. The problem was that I was a wreck myself. I was personally terrified. I didn't know if we were at the verge of World War 3 or what. In fact, I still don't know. That didn't stop me though--I got dressed and called the day cares and told them I was on my way. I always carry my "Just in Case" magic show with me and I also had some stickers, inexpensive premiums to give away and some coloring sheets. I don't remember how many centers I visited that day. I remember that I started at 11:30 am and I didn't get to what would be my last one until after 7:00 pm. When I arrived at the last daycare I really didn't feel like performing and being funny so I visited with the kids one on one and passed out the things I had brought. I sat down at one table and started to color with some of the kids there. One little girl looked up and asked, "Where is my Mommy? She's usually here by now!" I told her that I didn't know--then I asked her if she worked on base. The girl said yes so I told her that she probably had to work late today. She looked me in the eye and said, "Is today a bad day?" I didn't know what to say. On one hand I didn't want to worry her, on the other hand I didn't want to lie to her either. "Yes, it is a bad day," I simply told her. "That's OK," she said. "Tomorrow will be better." With that she went back to her coloring. I sat at that table for a while longer, not wanting to leave the little philosopher that had just taught me so much. I knew immediately that she was right. Tomorrow would be better--and the next day better still if I chose. I also knew that the very kids that I was there to comfort were comforting me. Finally though, I did leave. And I left with several new pictures to hang on my refrigerator. ...after all this time I still have those pictures. —Dal Sanders
Dal Sanders International Comedy Magician and Illusionist Based In Dallas, TX
The Society of American Magicians Past National President M.I.M.C.* |
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Shakey Veteran user In over 4 million i've made 360 Posts |
I was at work - I can remember a crowd of us gathered around the TV watching the continual loop on the news here. My thoughts, and prayers, go out today to all our friends in the USA and the rest of the world who were affected by this horrific act.
I was due to be in NY on 13/09, but obviously this was cancelled. I truly hope to visit again (i was there 2 years before) to pay my respects. With love - Shakey |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Dal, that is a wonderful story. It's one that I would expect to be in those viral emails everyone sends to everyone else.
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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-11 15:02, Dal wrote: I don't want to be a sap, but if I wasn't sitting in my office with people standing right out in the hall I probably would have broken down and cried at that. I'm having kind of a hard time right now. That really hit me hard.
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
Dal, that is the most poignant thing I've ever read on the Café'.
I'm really moved by all your stories, especially those of you who had loved ones involved. |
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
By the way, Vandy, even as I read these stories I am still brought to tears. I sit here reading them and my eyes water just thinking of that day and what everyone went through.
I've lived in Miami for over 20 years and have lived on & off in L.A. for about ten... I still feel like a New Yorker having been born there and living there again in the 90s. It still chills me when I hear the stories or see the documentaries. One other interesting tale in my life: I was living in Los Angeles from about 91 to the beginning of 93. I moved back to New York in February of 93. If you remember, late in February there was an attempt to bomb the Towers using a car bomb. I was there, too. I was actually really close that time. My friend and I had gone downtown to a Bally's located in the Woolworth building. As we came out we heard all the sirens. When we got back to the apartment we heard the news. When 9/11 happened I had this weird Deja Vous experience. It was like a dream... or should I say, a nightmare. Unfortunately this will be a moment in time that will be talked about in history books for years and years to come. Hopefully we all learn from this recent past event so we are not doomed to repeat it. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-11 16:26, Greg Arce wrote: It's extremely difficult to really think about. If I thought about it I would be moved to tears everyday just like in the days that followed 9/11. It's really only on the Anniversary that I can allow myself to really think about what happened that day. And it still hurts, it hurts like hell.
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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kcg5 Inner circle who wants four fried chickens and a coke 1868 Posts |
Dal, tears in my eyes. unbelievable.
Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!!!!!
"History will be kind to me, as I intend to write it"- Sir Winston Churchill |
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kcg5 Inner circle who wants four fried chickens and a coke 1868 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-11 15:47, Vandy Grift wrote: We are all here with ya Vandy.
Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!!!!!
"History will be kind to me, as I intend to write it"- Sir Winston Churchill |
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Margarette Special user Memphis area 956 Posts |
I had dropped my older son off at school and was taking my younger son to daycare when I heard the news. I rushed home and sat glued to the television while frantically trying to get in touch with my NYC family and friends. When I saw the second tower fall, I went to my older son's school and stayed with him until school was out and picked up my younger son. I couldn't cry about what I was seeing because I was in too much shock.
We were talking about this in the teacher's lounge during lunch, and I found myself getting choked up. Everyone wanted to ask me questions about it when I revealed that I lost two cousins in the Towers. I was thinking about what I'd say should any of the students ask me about it today. My grandparents remember where they were on when Pearl Harbor was bombed, my parents remember where they were when they heard Kennedy was shot, and I remember where I was when I heard the Tower was hit.
The only stupid question is the one not asked.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Was at work...
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
I was at work and got the unfolding news from my wife over the cell phone. I was the first to report it in my office.
By midday, the German-owned company I worked for let everyone off with pay for the rest of the day to be with our families. It was a considerate gesture, though I had to resist the urge to belt one German tech who made a crass aside about "the invulnerable United States."
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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Brian Proctor Inner circle Somewhere 2323 Posts |
I woke up around 6:30am pacific time and turned on the local morning music station. I thought I had turned on an A.M. talk show or had it on the wrong station. No, my radio said 105.1 FM. I thought something was wrong with the radio. I started to hear Peter Jennings' voice describe some kind of event that was unfolding in NYC. I tried to change the station, it was on the next station, and the next. I ran out to the living room and turned on the TV. What I realized that I was hearing on the radio was a broadcast of ABC News. I saw a picture of the trade center towers and smoke billowing out the top of the building. I did not know what had happened yet. Then I heard them say that only moments ago an airliner had crashed into one of the towers. I turned around and grabbed the phone to immediately call my dad who was working in downtown Portland. He said he had heard something about it via the radio station they were listening to but was not sure what exactly was going on either. After I started telling him was I was seeing on the T.V. I turned around and saw a huge cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared a bit I noticed one of the towers were gone. I told my dad that the 1st tower had collapsed. My dad and I started praying on the phone. Minutes later the 2nd tower fell... I have never been more scared. Everyone was at school was huddled around televisions in every class. There was not a single person talking, lots of people were crying or sitting there silently glued to the images unfolding on the news. It is hard to write this. I was not there, but my heart was there. I will never forget what happend. It has been to this date, the most important event in my life. I will never forget the images on live TV of what at 1st I thought was falling debris. Instead I realized what it was... people jumping to their fate to escape the flames. Never forget them. Pray for their families. Thank you to all the Policemen and Firefighters who braved the destruction and fire to save all that they could. Thank you to the ones who sacraficed themselves for others. Never forget.
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Dal, that was great of you to do that!
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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