9/11 and my thoughts on it...
First of all, a little perspective.
I am from Oklahoma, and have my own personal experiences dealing with bombings. April 19th, 1995 is a day I will never forget. Not only due to the fact that I knew people at the time that were personally affected, but also due to the fact that my girlfriend (at the time) was right down the street from it, when it happened. I did not know if she was ok, for most of the day and it was a very long day. I was so relieved when I finally heard from her and terrified to know she was so close to where it happened.
I don't say this to take anything away from yesterday, but to help explain why 9/11 affected me so much.
I remember clearly where I was that day. I was in training for a new job at The Hartford Insurance Company in Oklahoma City. We were coming out of the breakroom and saw people standing in front of a television. We walked up just in time to see the second plane hit the towers. I just remember the sense of shock with people. It had been 6 years since the OKC bombing, but you could see it coming back for some people. Just the look on their faces, like it was happening all over again. I know I felt that way and am not ashamed to admit it hit me very hard at that moment. I remember tears falling that day (for myself and a few others) as we saw this horrible thing happen before our eyes.
I did not move to New York until 2003. I don't honestly think if I had moved here prior to 9/11, that I could have stayed here. I love this city so much and it is the first place in a very long time, that has felt like home. But that would have been too much for me. I have spokent to so many people about that day and even as big of a city as NYC is, so many were personally affected by that horrible act.
But I did move here in 2003 and you could see how it affected the city. New York gets a very bad rap in most ways. I think this is due to tv and movies, potraying it a certain way. A negative way. Ny'ers are brash and cold, is what you heat about, before you ever come here. I know that is what I thought, since I had never been here before I moved here. Hell, I am from a small town in Oklahoma. I thought that people would be waiting in line to mug me, the moment i got off the plane. I just didn't know any better at that time.
But you could feel how people were still trying to cope with it in 2003 (and even now for some). This is not something you can just get over. It may be with you for the rest of your life, and that is ok. We should never forget these type of things, and remember that as a country we have it pretty damn good, even with a recession. Things could be better, but they could also be a hell of a lot worse. People tend to forget how hard it is in other countries for people to have the same rights that we take for granted on a daily basis. I know I am guilty of that as well, but I really do try to stop and think about that every day, if I can. My morning ritual is to look out on to 39th and 5th ave at the Lord and Taylor's store. They have 7 american flags, and I just like to look at them each to try to remind myself of what I have, and how lucky I am.
Another example of NY'ers? The blackout in August of 2003. It is obvious to most how quickly that could turn ugly in a very short time. With looting and the chance of crime being a major problem. You didn't hear about that during that time. I think I did not have electricity for almost 4 days and I really do not recall of hearing any major issues with theft or anything like that during those days. A lot of people may say that it was too short for that type of thing to have occured, but i don't think I can agree with that completely. I think it was so close to 9/11 that people were still trying to pick each other up. I rememer a woman falling, headfirst into gravel that night. It was getting dark and she just wiped out completely. She was crying and upset, and me and afew other people just sat down with her and talked to her in an attempt to calm her down. Am I saying this would not happen anywhere else? God, no. But it was one of the best moments I have ever been personally involved in regards to the human spirit and how important it can be to just think about someone else for a moment.
So, here I am. Thinking about what an amazing country we live in. It is a country that definately has its faults, but when things go bad for us...people step up. You see it time and time again. The Okc bombing, Katrina, 9/11. As arrogant of a country we can be, and we truly are that, we are also a country that when the times are tough, will stop and pick each other up.
That makes me smile so much it hurts.
To those affected personally by 9/11, my thoughts and heartfelt wishes go to you. To everyone else, just stop and remember that freedom is something we have to stop taking for granted. There are forces that would take that from us if they could, and just take a moment from time to time and remember how good things truly are if we only can allow ourselves to see them.
I am from Oklahoma, and have my own personal experiences dealing with bombings. April 19th, 1995 is a day I will never forget. Not only due to the fact that I knew people at the time that were personally affected, but also due to the fact that my girlfriend (at the time) was right down the street from it, when it happened. I did not know if she was ok, for most of the day and it was a very long day. I was so relieved when I finally heard from her and terrified to know she was so close to where it happened.
I don't say this to take anything away from yesterday, but to help explain why 9/11 affected me so much.
I remember clearly where I was that day. I was in training for a new job at The Hartford Insurance Company in Oklahoma City. We were coming out of the breakroom and saw people standing in front of a television. We walked up just in time to see the second plane hit the towers. I just remember the sense of shock with people. It had been 6 years since the OKC bombing, but you could see it coming back for some people. Just the look on their faces, like it was happening all over again. I know I felt that way and am not ashamed to admit it hit me very hard at that moment. I remember tears falling that day (for myself and a few others) as we saw this horrible thing happen before our eyes.
I did not move to New York until 2003. I don't honestly think if I had moved here prior to 9/11, that I could have stayed here. I love this city so much and it is the first place in a very long time, that has felt like home. But that would have been too much for me. I have spokent to so many people about that day and even as big of a city as NYC is, so many were personally affected by that horrible act.
But I did move here in 2003 and you could see how it affected the city. New York gets a very bad rap in most ways. I think this is due to tv and movies, potraying it a certain way. A negative way. Ny'ers are brash and cold, is what you heat about, before you ever come here. I know that is what I thought, since I had never been here before I moved here. Hell, I am from a small town in Oklahoma. I thought that people would be waiting in line to mug me, the moment i got off the plane. I just didn't know any better at that time.
But you could feel how people were still trying to cope with it in 2003 (and even now for some). This is not something you can just get over. It may be with you for the rest of your life, and that is ok. We should never forget these type of things, and remember that as a country we have it pretty damn good, even with a recession. Things could be better, but they could also be a hell of a lot worse. People tend to forget how hard it is in other countries for people to have the same rights that we take for granted on a daily basis. I know I am guilty of that as well, but I really do try to stop and think about that every day, if I can. My morning ritual is to look out on to 39th and 5th ave at the Lord and Taylor's store. They have 7 american flags, and I just like to look at them each to try to remind myself of what I have, and how lucky I am.
Another example of NY'ers? The blackout in August of 2003. It is obvious to most how quickly that could turn ugly in a very short time. With looting and the chance of crime being a major problem. You didn't hear about that during that time. I think I did not have electricity for almost 4 days and I really do not recall of hearing any major issues with theft or anything like that during those days. A lot of people may say that it was too short for that type of thing to have occured, but i don't think I can agree with that completely. I think it was so close to 9/11 that people were still trying to pick each other up. I rememer a woman falling, headfirst into gravel that night. It was getting dark and she just wiped out completely. She was crying and upset, and me and afew other people just sat down with her and talked to her in an attempt to calm her down. Am I saying this would not happen anywhere else? God, no. But it was one of the best moments I have ever been personally involved in regards to the human spirit and how important it can be to just think about someone else for a moment.
So, here I am. Thinking about what an amazing country we live in. It is a country that definately has its faults, but when things go bad for us...people step up. You see it time and time again. The Okc bombing, Katrina, 9/11. As arrogant of a country we can be, and we truly are that, we are also a country that when the times are tough, will stop and pick each other up.
That makes me smile so much it hurts.
To those affected personally by 9/11, my thoughts and heartfelt wishes go to you. To everyone else, just stop and remember that freedom is something we have to stop taking for granted. There are forces that would take that from us if they could, and just take a moment from time to time and remember how good things truly are if we only can allow ourselves to see them.