(no subject)

[seventhe]

I'm stealing this idea from jennyclarinet, because I think it's a really interesting idea. As a pseudo-memorial, and just as an exercise in curiosity -- F-List, what were you doing on September 11th, 2001? It was a very strange day for a lot of people, and I'd like to hear everyone else's stories. (edit: I guess LJ has made this their topic of the day. So now I'm stealing the idea from them, too.)

Jenny's already seen my story, but here it is:

I was, actually, asleep. I can tell you it was a Tuesday, because I was debating whether or not to sleep through Music Theory II, and my friend Chris knocked on the door. A lot. Repeatedly. I am an asshole, and I ignored him, because I wanted to sleep. Eventually the phone rang. At this point I was already awake, so I picked it up. It was Chris. "You'd better turn on your tv," he says. "You'll want to see this."

So I did.

I didn't really know what to do. I sat and watched the news for a while - I can't remember whether I watched the second plane hit or if I was just watching old footage - and then, because I was pretty numb, I realized it was time for class. I didn't want to go, but Music Theory II only gave you two skips, so I got dressed and headed down there. The campus was pretty much empty. I got to the music building, and my prof was sitting there with his head in his hands. "Go home," he said. "Class is canceled."

So I did.

We (my roommate and I, once she got back from her boyfriend's dorm) basically spent the day watching the TV and calling people. I remember walking across campus to meet up with my boyfriend-at-the-time. I remember we met up at the library and just hugged for a really long time. Then I think we both went our separate ways home. Nobody really knew what to do.


I already know from jennyclarinet and katmillia, but the rest of you - what were you doing? What do you remember about that day?

Also, eerian_sadow has a great memorial post here.

Comments

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I was sleeping, too. I think it was around 8:00 or 8:30, Pacific Time, and my clock radio alarm went off. The DJ said something about the second tower having fallen just as I hit the snooze button.

About 10 seconds later, as T and I processed what we had just heard, we looked at each other, woke up completely, and T jumped out of bed to turn the television on. Both towers were gone, and reports about United 93 were just coming in. So by the time we knew what was happening, it was all over, although of course nobody knew that yet. We sat and watched, dumbfounded, until about 10am when I decided I probably ought to go to work. I arrived to a nearly empty office and learned from a co-worker that everyone had been sent home. So I went home, too, and T and I spend the rest of the day glued to the Internet and the television.

My other 9/11 story is that we had, many months prior, bought plane tickets to take our first European vacation. Our flight to London was scheduled for Saturday, 9/15/2001. We talked about canceling but decided against it; still, we didn't know for sure whether we'd even be able to go until nearly the last minute. Finally, on Friday night, we found out that the SF airport and Virgin Atlantic would both be fully operational, so we went. The lines in the airport were stupendous. But everyone was very well behaved, and the plane, which was completely full, was also completely silent. It was surreal. A good vacation, once we got there, but weird too.

(I also happened to be flying on the first day of the "no liquids on planes" rule , but that's a whole nother story...)

[kristinmachina.livejournal.com]

I was flying to Berlin when they just initiated the "no liquids" rule. Lost my deodorant in the security line.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I also lost my deodorant. We were able to take everything else (shampoo, contact lens solution, etc.) back to the car and leave it behind, but I didn't think about that one until it was too late.

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

The flight sounds really creepy, actually. I can't imagine. Wow.

...although now I want to hear the other story! I'm so glad that was widely publicized, because -- I -- I liked only having to bring a carry-on with shampoo and underwear!

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

If you'd like some historic on-the-scene reporting, I actually called in a voice post from the airport that morning:

http://owlmoose.livejournal.com/173653.html

We were headed to San Diego to visit T's parents for the weekend. We'd prepared to check our bags, but after about ten minutes in the bag check line, we decided to just leave all our liquids behind. So I packed them up and ran them to the trunk of our car (good thing we decided to drive that time; sometimes we take the train), and then we went straight to security, which was moving much faster. Every single trash cans was overflowing with toiletries and drinks. I saw several cases of wine, too, presumably left behind by vacationers to the wine country. Very sad.

Then we got on the plane and the luggage bins were *empty*. It was amazing. When we flew home a few days later, I overheard a flight attendant telling a passenger that they actually loved the new rules because there was so little baggage, making their jobs a lot easier. I'd never thought of that, but it does make sense.

Wow, was that really only two years ago? I feel like I've been packing my stuff into little plastic bags and arguing with airport personnel about contact lens solution forever.