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.
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 ✨️🌷
It's unfortunate that a huge tragic event as 911 tends to bring people closer together. And how bad do the conditions of the world have to get before we get our heads out of the sand, stand together, and do something to make the world better..
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!
Our friend, a young NYC policeman at the time, was a First Responder. Afterward, he was awarded early retirement. Also as a result, he recently began chemotherapy treatments for cancer.
What a wonderful post. I’m sorry you had to endure such an ordeal, and for your loss. It’s not exactly the way one would hope to celebrate a birthday, but knowing you’re among those who survived and remain productive is meaningful.
Happy birthday Monica and commiserations to you and all of New York for the losses incurred that day.
9/11 (although we express dates differently here in Oz, so it's 11/9) burned itself in my memory for two reasons. In 2001 I had just made "first contact" via a dating app email, with the man who became the love of my life. When I got home that evening and switched on the TV, an airplane had just hit the 2nd tower.
The juxtaposition of extreme pleasure and nerve jangling fear etched itself into my memory that night. I was afraid to go to bed lest I awaken to a world at war! Yet, I was excited and eager to make contact with my online match again!
Fast forward to 11th September 2018 and my world came crashing down around me like the Twin Towers as we switched off my husband’s life support and said our goodbyes......
So each year as the World (and I) mourn the 2977 souls lost in New York 2001, I mourn the loss of one very special soul in Adelaide, Australia on the anniversary of our "meeting."
Thank you for sharing your “September 11th” story as you lived in New York then. I am so sorry for your loss during that time of so many people and being in the thick of it all going on during that time. That must have been so surreal at the time and very very sad for so many who lived there. Wishing you many more birthdays Monica to share your stories and yourself with so many of your readers that you continue to encourage and inspire. Have a blessed birthday today. 🪴
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.
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.
It's unfortunate that a huge tragic event as 911 tends to bring people closer together. And how bad do the conditions of the world have to get before we get our heads out of the sand, stand together, and do something to make the world better..
Amen to that!
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.
Our friend, a young NYC policeman at the time, was a First Responder. Afterward, he was awarded early retirement. Also as a result, he recently began chemotherapy treatments for cancer.
Beautiful and so profound. Thank you for sharing your story.
What a wonderful post. I’m sorry you had to endure such an ordeal, and for your loss. It’s not exactly the way one would hope to celebrate a birthday, but knowing you’re among those who survived and remain productive is meaningful.
Happy birthday Monica and commiserations to you and all of New York for the losses incurred that day.
9/11 (although we express dates differently here in Oz, so it's 11/9) burned itself in my memory for two reasons. In 2001 I had just made "first contact" via a dating app email, with the man who became the love of my life. When I got home that evening and switched on the TV, an airplane had just hit the 2nd tower.
The juxtaposition of extreme pleasure and nerve jangling fear etched itself into my memory that night. I was afraid to go to bed lest I awaken to a world at war! Yet, I was excited and eager to make contact with my online match again!
Fast forward to 11th September 2018 and my world came crashing down around me like the Twin Towers as we switched off my husband’s life support and said our goodbyes......
So each year as the World (and I) mourn the 2977 souls lost in New York 2001, I mourn the loss of one very special soul in Adelaide, Australia on the anniversary of our "meeting."
RIP 2978 souls.....
Thank you for sharing your “September 11th” story as you lived in New York then. I am so sorry for your loss during that time of so many people and being in the thick of it all going on during that time. That must have been so surreal at the time and very very sad for so many who lived there. Wishing you many more birthdays Monica to share your stories and yourself with so many of your readers that you continue to encourage and inspire. Have a blessed birthday today. 🪴
Monica,
Thank you for your post and describing your experiences; it must have been terrifying.
I appreciate your reflections about going through changes and continuing to face the unknown and and what it brings - yes, life’s impermanences.
I am facing a huge unknown today… your posting comforts me. 🧡
Happy Birthday!!
Warm Birthday Blessings to you.