Remembering...

[Carolann R]

As a usual part of human nature, we tend to become complacent after
large incidents occur in our lives...we go on - that's our job.

Today is a day that will remain in our history to mark an event of
catastrophic proportions. My intention is not to linger there in
that place of disbelief or fear, but to pay homage to innocents who
were not spared the dark and relentless hand of senseless and ill-
targeted hate.

I was working for an airline that day in Quality Management. It was
my job to take the calls coming in from scared family members and
friends and to reassure them in the face of something we had no
experience with. Nothing could prepare us for what happened on
9/11/2001.

I got a call from a family member of a police officer in New York
City...later President Bush would hold the Badge of this lost hero
up to the cameras in a news conference.

I don't think to wallow in fear of the unknown is a good thing, but
certainly to remember those lives and the lives of those who were in
some way attached to them is a small price we can all afford.

Thanks for letting me vent. I hope I did not offend. Mahalo.



Carrie

"To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater." Bono
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art/dreamhawaii.Cfm

[macuu222]

I was home visiting my mother for labor day weekend in Paramus, New jersey which is about 15 minutes drive across the George Washington Bridge from the city. I flew back on September 4th on United flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco. I vaguely remember the stewardess on that flight and often wondered if they were the same ones on that ill fated flight on the 11th.

[Kapohocat]

(With 6 hours time difference here)..... I was asleep in bed till the phone rang at 4:30 AM and it was my mom on the phone yelling "Turn on the TV but your brother is alright, we talked to him".... (He is a USAirways Captain flying on the East Coast)......

Never left the house in Honomu the rest of the day makign pots of coffee and food as everyone we knew who lived off grid came over and watched and watched.... and were in shock and disbelieveing. Everyone who knows Nick calling our house to check in and see if he was okay. (he was flying into Charlotte, NC when they started grounding planes and was on the ground and on the phone to Mom within an hour!)

Then finding out our next door neighbor in Honomu was at a conference and there at a hotel right down the street from the Pentagon! Didnt get ahold of her to late afternoon.

The next day driving by our little tiny Hilo (Intl) airport with all sorts of BIG planes parked - when usually its Aloha or Hawaiian's ...... We are the first airport coming from the madlands... and HNL was filling up.

[Hopefeather]

I have a friend who worked in the world trade center. She was the only one in her entire firm that survived.

hope

[adias]

I was in New York City, in midtown. After the second plan hit, rushed to pick my daughter from school further downtown, streams of people were walking uptown.

Power was out, cell phones were overloaded, interestingly the land lines still worked. Elevators were out and living on the 18th floor, it was a long commute just getting up and down from the building. People congregated in front of their building and were extraordinarily neighborly. It was the worst of times, but bought out the best in New Yorkers.

Today being the fifth anniversary, it was a little scary, but life goes on. The city is vibrant and strong as ever, although vulnerable in a thousand different ways.

After awhile one does get complacent, but it’s always in the back of your mind.


Ajit

[Rob L]

I used to live in New York. I have some many friends and a former lover there. Two friends live within 4 blocks of the WTC. I spent weeks trying to reach them all. They were all alright.

Aloha,
Rob L

[jdirgo]

Friends of mine that moved here in about 2000 used to work at the WTC. When I talked to him about it, he said "the first plane hit my old office" (he could tell from the video).

Another client of mine, moved here after the attack. He said he was in his condo watching it all unfold a couple of blocks away, and just knew he could not live in New York anymore. It would haunt him for life.

John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell

[Howard]

Our son-in-law had worked at WTC several years earlier; he changed jobs long before 9/11, and was working in his office in midtown Manhattan on 9/11. However, he knew many of the people who were still working in his old office, and other offices in the same building, and quite a few of them were among those who died.

My cousin was working at WTC when the first plane hit. He started going down the stairs, and fortunately ignored an announcement that all was now clear and people should return to their offices. He kept going, and was outside by the time the second plane hit. He never returned to work in Manhattan after that; instead he and his wife opened a joint law practice in a small North Jersey town near where they live.

Howard

[Carolann R]

Lord Howard, if that wouldn't renew your meaning of life, aye? I mean - to come that close to such an awful end, only to start again.

Carrie

"To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater." Bono
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art/dreamhawaii.Cfm