Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Remembering 11-Years Ago Today


It's hard to believe it was 11-years ago today that America changed forever.
A day that thousands of people lost their lives and families lost brothers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, sisters, grandparents and so on.
It changed my life forever and today I'm doing a repost of my entry into this blog from September 11, 2009.
I will never forget - I hope you don't either. God Bless the USA.
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This is my favorite snapshot that was taken after the 9/11 attacks. It was taken by a Las Vegas Review Journal photographer at a memorial in Vegas. He won awards for it.

The 9/11 attacks totally changed my life forever. It was the day that I knew my dream of living out West wasn't that important. It was the day that I realized that family is everything.

Here's how my day went 8-years ago.

I was living in Las Vegas and had set my alarm for 5:30am to wake up and hit the gym. I had hit the snooze button and then finally turned on the TV. What did I see? That the WTC had been hit.

I was in the TV news business at the time and was really into any sort of 'breaking news' so I immediatley called my Mom. She was living in the Central time zone at the time so it was around 7:45am.

Mom turned her TV on and we proceeded to speculate what it could be? Then - another plane hit! I knew then it was no accident. I said 'screw the gym' I'm going to work.

As I got ready the Pentagon was hit. I just couldn't believe this was all happening. So surreal. As I was driving into work the 2nd tower fell. I listened to it on the radio and began to cry.

When I arrived at the TV station I was working at nearly everyone from all shifts had come in. We all wondered - what do you do?

From there we did what any good newsies do and started informing Las Vegas residents and visitors what they would have to do since the airport had been shut down, etc.

That night -- me, my best friend Rebekah, her hubby Rob and my sorority sister and friend Cathy, whom was also living out there, all got together.

We ate dinner, watched TV and were glad that we could all be a little family during that time.

6-months later I found the job here in Charlotte and said 'cya' to the West Coast. Now I'm closer to family and that is all that matters.

God Bless America and all of our troops that are still fighting for our freedom every single day.

What were you doing 8-years ago? How did the day change your life?

6 comments:

eas said...

Isn't it amazing how this event could change your life direction?

I was on my way to work in the Bay Area as I started super early. I heard it on the radio and couldn't quite figure out what was going on.

Can't believe it's been 11 years already.

Mandy said...

This post brought tears to my eyes. I bet we all will forever remember that day so vividly. I was still at tech and in a class called Violent Political Change. Ironic or what?

MCW said...

I think you know where I was...

Just realized on my way to work that this is the first year since before 9/11 that I am not in NYC.

xo

donatelli98 said...

It is amazing to think it has been 11 years, some days it seems like it was yesterday.

Leigh Powell Hines said...

Such a great post, Dee. I bet it was hectic in the news business. I was at a fundraising meeting with my job with the State. I was not in an area with a TV so we kept hearing what people would tell us.

Will and I got engaged that following Saturday. Sometimes he says he doesn't know if the timing was right after that, but he wanted to do. The ring people called on 9/11 to tell him it was ready.

Mandy said...

Found you via Mrs. Easton's blog & Congratulations on your pregnancy!! And a little girl! You've got to be over the moon ;)

Easton & I are due at the exact same time- both with baby girls as well!

YAY for girls!! Excited for you & your husband :)