Friday, September 11, 2009

We Will Never Forget


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?

1 comment:

starnes family said...

I was working for Pier 1....had just gone back and Carter was almost 1 year old. After sitting for a moment......processing all that was happening after we heard it on the news, TV, etc.....I left. I couldn't concentrate....was, ironically, in one of two twin tower buildings in downtown Fort Worth....I was a wreck....just needed to be close to him. Blake wanted me with him, too.

Seeing it all play out over the next few days, weeks, etc.....was astonishing.