Always Remember – 9/11/01
When I was 18, I moved to Connecticut to be a nanny for a very nice East Coast family. I was only there 6 months but consider it one of the best times of my life. I was actually extremely homesick and emotionally conflicted the entire time I was living there, fresh out of high school, but I learned so many valuable lessons and will never regret my time spent in Norwalk.
Every chance I got, I would ride the train south on the weekends to New York City. I loved wandering the busy streets, exploring as many neighborhoods as I possibly could. Sometimes I'd go with friends, sometimes I'd go alone. All of the stories you hear about New York being the coolest city ever...it's all true. I can't wait to take my husband and boys back one day!
This was almost 20 years ago, back before digital photography...I think the internet was just barely starting to evolve. Unfortunately, I have maybe 5 pictures total of my trips to NYC. I wanted so badly this morning to find these pictures I took at the top of the Empire State Building and pay tribute to an amazing, complex, incredible place.
I can barely remember what I did yesterday, but I'll NEVER forget where I was on 9/11/01 and exactly what I was doing.
I woke up early to go my waitressing job at The Fairway Grill and as I leaving our garage, the radio DJ's had just started talking about a developing story of a plane flying into the World Trade Centers. I remember running in to tell Jason, who was half asleep, and I don't think he believed me.
I got to work and the other workers already had the TV stations on the news. The rest of the day everyone who came in The Fairway, which on most days was at least half the town of St. George, was glued to the huge tube screens. That's how we all got our information back in those days...before smart phones and tablets.
I vividly remember being terrified of what was going to happen in the world, and we were thousands of miles away from Ground Zero.
I cannot imagine how the people who were directly affected in NYC, D.C., and Pennsylvania felt or how they are able to carry on. I just want them to know I personally will never forget. One day I will visit the 9/11 Memorial with my family. And we will always do what we can to make the world a better place.
Where were you on 9/11/01? Comment below...
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Oh, another thing, I remember when I took you to the airport for you to fly out, you got your ticket and got checked in and (how did this happen) I was walking with you to your gate, we were talking about your trip and you leaving then over the loudspeaker they announce your plane was boarding and leaving soon. We had to run to the gate, probably a long distance and you were crying. No time for long no goodbyes and all the parental instruction I wanted to give you. I couldn’t run as fast as you and I felt awful! Sending my daughter off to the Easy Coast far from home to “be on her own” fresh out of high school! Did they used to let everyone in, past security before 9-11?
I remember that crazy flight! It’s so funny because my flight home got mixed up too and I missed it and had to wait for another flight to get back to Vegas! The world has changed so much since then…I think you were able to run all the way back to my terminal with me. Thanks for commenting with your memories 🙂
I was in Skull Valley. Cliff cane running over with his wind up, survival battery radio, telling us about it. Like you, we hardly believed what we were hearing.
Yesterday, talking to a friend, he told us more ppl died (later on) from the dust the explosion caused (from cancer and probably other lung diseases) than from the horrible things going on with the collapsing buildings at ground zero and the fires and everything.
I will never forget either, whoever could.
I loved reading your blog, Anna. I worried so much back then when you took the train to NYC all by yourself. A little country girl, fresh out of high school!