Thank you for this post. I found it deeply touching and have tears in my eyes.
My younger brother was there and today is his 71st birthday, too. He was working just a few blocks away. I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday, but really to make sure he was ok. I asked him what was going on and he said there was a lot of paper floating down from the sky. I told him to be careful. Later he told me that he and some coworkers had walked down to the World Trade Center - he was a volunteer fireman in his small CT town, so I’m sure his impulse was not merely curiosity, but a desire to help if he could. He said they were less than a block away when they realized that the first tower was swaying and about to collapse. They ran back to their office and he was standing next to his boss when the second tower collapsed. His boss’s wife was in that tower.
My brother doesn’t talk about it much, but he still refuses to celebrate his birthday on September 11. He prefers that we wish him Happy Birthday before or after, but never on the date. I respect that and will be calling him tomorrow.
Thank you for those words. My birthday is 9/11 also. Since 2001 I have tried to be more thankful for each new day since life can change in an instant. I’m 67 today and retired and rewiring!
Happy Birthday Monica. The 9/11 events were terrible. I don’t even have words for it. I didn’t lose anyone close to me that day, so my heart thanks you for your experience. It brought a depth of feelings to me that I couldn’t quite grasp until I read your account. To this day I cannot watch anything related to those events. Your story helped me break that fear.
"And then, amid the isolation, something remarkable began to happen.
People stopped.
Neighbors who had passed one another for years without more than a polite nod began gathering on street corners to check on one another. Small groups formed on almost every block. People stood together and spoke quietly. There was nowhere to hurry, nothing to accomplish. We simply needed to stand beside another human being and know we were still here."
At this point in your writing I was crying!!! To experience such a beautiful act of kindness midst such uncertainty .
I will never forget this day and days that followed. I was not there I'm not American but I am a human being who felt this moment in time frozen and the gap that happened is forever there.
I am truly sorry.... and my heart goes out to everyone and anyone that had to personally go through such a loss.
The loss is truly insurmountable so large the world felt it as it happened.
I was in Sweden my home country standing in the living room my daughter was 1yrs old my son 6yrs old.
Tv was on I look over and see the plane hitting the tower and my brain couldn't comprehend was completely confused at first I thought it was a movie but quickly realized it was real and I froze thats when we saw the second plane .....
So today I will be with you and everyone who will remember and never forget but also to hold a prayer of light through this day and especially as it is your birthday ✨️💛
Wish you a day of peace while you carry on...Happy birthday ✨️🌷
Thank you for this post. I found it deeply touching and have tears in my eyes.
My younger brother was there and today is his 71st birthday, too. He was working just a few blocks away. I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday, but really to make sure he was ok. I asked him what was going on and he said there was a lot of paper floating down from the sky. I told him to be careful. Later he told me that he and some coworkers had walked down to the World Trade Center - he was a volunteer fireman in his small CT town, so I’m sure his impulse was not merely curiosity, but a desire to help if he could. He said they were less than a block away when they realized that the first tower was swaying and about to collapse. They ran back to their office and he was standing next to his boss when the second tower collapsed. His boss’s wife was in that tower.
My brother doesn’t talk about it much, but he still refuses to celebrate his birthday on September 11. He prefers that we wish him Happy Birthday before or after, but never on the date. I respect that and will be calling him tomorrow.
I understand your brother’s desire. It was only a year ago that I made peace with the fact that I was born on 911 and allowed myself to enjoy the day.
Hugs
Thank you for remembering and writing about your personal experience. A wonderful gift for today.
Thank you for those words. My birthday is 9/11 also. Since 2001 I have tried to be more thankful for each new day since life can change in an instant. I’m 67 today and retired and rewiring!
Happy birthday fellow Virgo!
Happy Birthday!!!
And thank you for sharing your personal story about those days.
Have a wonderful time today. Many blessings on your journey.
Thank you
Thank you so much for sharing your lived experience.
Happy Birthday Monica. The 9/11 events were terrible. I don’t even have words for it. I didn’t lose anyone close to me that day, so my heart thanks you for your experience. It brought a depth of feelings to me that I couldn’t quite grasp until I read your account. To this day I cannot watch anything related to those events. Your story helped me break that fear.
What a terrible day for you …and for all of us. Let’s hope nothing like that ever happens again…this administration?…🤞
"And then, amid the isolation, something remarkable began to happen.
People stopped.
Neighbors who had passed one another for years without more than a polite nod began gathering on street corners to check on one another. Small groups formed on almost every block. People stood together and spoke quietly. There was nowhere to hurry, nothing to accomplish. We simply needed to stand beside another human being and know we were still here."
At this point in your writing I was crying!!! To experience such a beautiful act of kindness midst such uncertainty .
I will never forget this day and days that followed. I was not there I'm not American but I am a human being who felt this moment in time frozen and the gap that happened is forever there.
I am truly sorry.... and my heart goes out to everyone and anyone that had to personally go through such a loss.
The loss is truly insurmountable so large the world felt it as it happened.
I was in Sweden my home country standing in the living room my daughter was 1yrs old my son 6yrs old.
Tv was on I look over and see the plane hitting the tower and my brain couldn't comprehend was completely confused at first I thought it was a movie but quickly realized it was real and I froze thats when we saw the second plane .....
So today I will be with you and everyone who will remember and never forget but also to hold a prayer of light through this day and especially as it is your birthday ✨️💛
Wish you a day of peace while you carry on...Happy birthday ✨️🌷
Big hugs
A.