(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

[lassarina]

Oh, wow, taking me back.

Northwestern's school year starts very late, usually in the last 10 days of September. We were going to leave to drive to Chicago on 12 September 2001. So I was supposed to be packing on 9/11/01.

Me being me, I'd stayed up until 5 am and snuck into bed just barely before my daddy woke up. I was still asleep when my parents came home at 2. I remember my mother shouting up the stairs, "Meaghan Elizabeth, get up!!" I staggered out of bed and downstairs, confused as hell, because what was Mom doing home now? The next words out of her mouth were "Go watch television with your father."

I can count on one hand - on one finger, in fact - the number of times that phrase has been uttered to me by my mother in my entire life.

I went downstairs and thought Daddy was watching a movie. Then as the sleep-fog cleared, I realized what was going on, and I was stunned.

I went down to the basement, where my computer lived, and I found eighteen different IMs from people I knew who knew I lived near DC, wanting to know if I was okay.

I remember being so angry and just wanting to be able to do violence unto the persons responsible. Slow, agonizing violence.

I'm not sure, now, that what we did in the aftermath was correct, although I remember supporting it at the time. I certainly don't agree with this war we are embroiled in in Iraq, and I wish to hell someone would do something useful about Al Qaeda instead of dicking around jacking off at things that aren't relevant. But the thing I remember most clearly, and the thing that I miss, is the sense of unity and purpose at that time. I wish that we could recapture that without needing that kind of tragedy to galvanize our response. I imagine there are people out there who remember Pearl Harbour, and feel the same.