9/11: Re-Aired and Really Disappointing

[ras2883]

This morning, major news network MSNBC re-aired The Today Show's original coverage of the September 11 attacks, which were broadcast in full, in real time, and without commercials. It was as if 9/11 was happening all over again

Comments

[tomwalker]

As odd as it will sound, the rebroadcast made me very nostalgic for Fall of 2001 in a lot of ways.

Being driven home in Heidi's Tercel down Route 1l into the setting sun, Mercury Rev's All is Dream (released 9/11/01), my first class with Dr. Libertin, I was getting all As and writing awesome academic papers, playing regularly in two bands, wraps every Tuesday and Thursday in the CUB where I spent most of my days reading and playing pool, hearing that two planes had struck the towers on a radio playing in a van as I walked out of a class, hearing that the radio announcers describe how the buildings fell in the CUB, the AMERICA IS UNDER SIEGE banner headline in the Public Opinion, stands set up in the town square blasting "From a Distance" and handing out flags that evening, Stoner asking me if I thought it was the end of the world when we were all out in the street near the B&A Cafe marveling at a random aurora borealis shortly after that and I didn't know what to tell him, every Sunday we met at the B&A to watch Adult Swim cartoons....

It goes on forever like that.

My first semester was a very strange time. It was the last time I kinda' enjoyed college...and I blame the terrorists for taking that away.

I did feel my chest start to tighten watching it today...but nothing close to the panic and lack of control I felt 6 years ago.

Dobler.

[ras2883]

It's interesting to me that our experiences after 9/11 are opposites. That year, my first year in college, was one of the best years of my life.

As for the day itself, I have three memories:

1. I stopped briefly in the lobby on the way to my 9:30 Repp class. The burning Towers were on the TV, and several of the van drivers were watching the coverage. I remember thinking "that's not good" and going to Butterfield. I was the only one in class, excluding Repp, who knew what had happened.

2. I came back to Shafer. The Towers had fallen, and I sat in the now-crowded lobby with Pudlak, and we bonded for the first time because we both knew somebody at NYU and hoped they were OK.

3. This memory is less vivid, but I remember calling my mother crying because "my city [had] been destroyed."

[tomwalker]

Thanks for this posting Rachel, I've been wondering what you thought... how does New York feel today?... i think about you lots,
and i miss your sarcasm---Jill

[ras2883]

Jill,

It was a very foggy and stormy day in the city, actually, so I didn't leave the house until 9 p.m., when we went to a nearby park to try and see the memorial lights at the opposite end of the island. The weather then was very tense and almost Halloween-like, (a front was moving in) and the wind was strong and the air was cool. I've never felt lonely or "afraid" in the city, but last night I did (even though I was with Aaron). I don't know if to attribute it to the weather or to the specific day. Perhaps a bit of both.

I hope all's well in Texas. Keep in touch.

[tomwalker]

My first semester of college was my best, don't get me wrong. I was surrounded by friends, music, good food and I could travel wherever and whenever I wanted.

Haven't had that since. Doubt I ever will.

Dobler.