12 Years Ago Today….
It seems like a lifetime, yet also like it was yesterday that the attack on the US happened on Sept. 11, 2001. Still to this day I cannot watch anything about it without crying, after 12 years the wound is still fresh. The new tower is almost complete, there is a museum and memorial on the sacred site and it’s good to see life breathed into a spot that remained empty for so long. Every year I watch the reading of the names dutifully, I feel I must. I don’t know why but I do. I can see the tribute in lights from my house which is just across the river from the site and I sit on my stoop thinking about that day.
Life goes on, but on this day I think it’s important to remember, remember those lives that were so senselessly lost, remember what we were doing at that very minute that it happened, be thankful that we are here to remember and be thankful. There is a lot that we take for granted.
A friend sent me a link to this video, It’s about the great boat lift that happened on Sept. 11. I had never seen it before and it’s amazing. Narrated by Tom Hanks it gives some insight into how difficult it was to get off the island that day and what people did to help.
Lest we forget.
Tribute in Lights from google pictures
apuginthekitchen 
Even though it was 12 long years ago – I will always remember exactly where I was and what I was doing and how I was feeling when this tragedy happened. You are right, we are very fortunate to be alive and well and able to remember!
Thank you for sharing.
It’s so true Sophia, I can remember every word I said and exactly what I was doing at the time this occurred. Thanks so much and we do have so much to be grateful for.
So well put Suzanne. The first thing I thought about this morning when I woke up was the tragedy 12 years ago today. I can only imagine how intense this is for you as a New Yorker. Thank you for posting this today and I will now watch the video.
The video is amazing, I honestly didn’t know the magnitude of the boat lifts. I was so caught up in the moments I didn’t know how many people were actually taken by boat out of lower Manhattan, over 500,000 people. Amazing.
You are right. Amazing. There are so many stories we haven’t heard. It leaves me speechless.
I can still remember the sense of shock and disbelief I felt when I heard about 9/11. I cannot imagine what it felt like for New Yorkers and how those and so many other emotions were magnified a zillion times.
I have to say very shamefacedly that it didn’t register with me until I read your post that today was the anniversary. Remember the many.
Thank you, I know no matter how many years its been it’s still an open wound. We will always remember.
I can’t believe it’s been 12 years. I will never forget that day. Thank you for this moving remembrance.
Its so hard to believe its been 12 years. Can never forget that day! Thanks so much Azita.
It was 12 yrs ago, today, I came to school and all of a sudden. No class was running. Everyone went to watch the disaster.sad
I remember exactly also what I was doing, getting ready for work but could not tear myself away from the TV, was mesmerized by what was happening and had a very bad feeling before we really found out what happened.
beautiful, Suzanne. Thanks for posting. It was felt nationwide, for sure, though I can’t even begin to imagine what it would have been like to be so close to actual events.
Thanks Liz, yes it was an American and actually worldwide tragedy but living through it in the city was surreal for sure. Thanks so much
I was 12 when it happened so at that time I did not really understand what was happening. You are very strong, Suzanne! Take care!
It was a terrible day for sure. Thank you!
Great post Suzanne, thanks for sharing. I wasn’t in NYC at the time, but from being here for almost 9 years now, I definitely feel the Community the city has with each other during this time.
Yes a very strong sense of community and what happened in the aftermath with everyone was nothing short of amazing. Thanks so much.
Beautiful post Suzanne! I was in a different country that time (still in college) but I remember the day like yesterday. I was seeing the stars and stripes in my neighbor’s yard today and was feeling very emotional. I can only imagine what you might be feeling as a New Yorker.
Yes, its definitely an emotional feeling today. Lots of memories flooding. Very hard indeed.
Joining with you in prayer on this significant day.
Love,
Maria
Thank you so much Maria.
Beautifully expressed. It was indeed a terrible tragedy and even on this side of the Atlantic people remember what they were doing as the events unfolded…
Yes, I think most of the world was riveted by the events on that day, it really should be a worldwide day of remembrance officially in my opinion.
Thank you for sharing that video. I didn’t know any of that happened. How powerful. My thoughts are with you today, my friend.
I live here and didn’t know the extent of the boat lift. On that day everything halted, no cars were allowed anywhere, it was like a ghost town, but during it all they were transporting people by boat it’s amazing really, Thanks for watching the video, I found it inspiring,
Yes, so inspiring, it made me cry like 3 times and I had to go wash my face. But, well worth it.
This will show how young I am, but I was a freshman in college on 9/11. It was only my second week of class, and I was basically alone and didn’t know anyone. I remember just being really lonely and confused, but thinking how lucky I was that my parents were just a phone call away (and I actually COULD make a phone call on that day).
There definitely was comfort for you in being able to reach the parents, when something this catastrophic happens having loved ones easily accessible is a great source of comfort for sure.
Very well put!
Thank you!
You are right: the video is amazing. I didn’t know anything about the boat evacuation. The interviews are so touching. The whole world will never forget those images.
I had no idea the extent of the boat evacuation until I saw the video, it really is amazing, No we will never forget!
A beautiful, sentimental post my friend.
Thank you!
Even though I was very young I still remember the day so well. What a terrible tragedy..
The video is great. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Julian, it is a great video. Even after 12 years its still so painful.
It’s still so vivid. That disbelief. Even after 12 years. And although I grew up in N. Ireland I will never understand the mindlessness of terrorism – at any level.
– In many ways I hope I never do. Anyway, whilst in New York for the first time several years ago I felt oddly compelled to visit the site. Not as a tourist (even though I was). I didn’t get the impression from anyone there that that was the case. Just that it was an incredibly moving experience.
Oh so you visited the site while in NY, it’s mind blowing. I stayed away initially but after lower Manhattan re opened for business I had a real estate closing in a building near the site, we all stood at the window and looked onto that big gaping hole and our hearts just sunk. Seeing it on TV was one thing but being right there where the devastation occurred was overwhelming, I am with you, I will never understand terrorism, the senseless slaughter of innocents is so evil.
Beautiful, Suzanne. I vividly remember standing frozen in my kitchen, listening in disbelief to the radio on this day. I can’t even imagine how emotionally intense it must be for you right across the river. I’m thinking of you.
It was intensely scary not knowing the extent of what happened, World Trade Towers, the Pentagon, the plane that went down in PA. The world was transformed that day. Thank you.
Oh Suzanne! I’m sitting here with tears just running down my cheeks, my nose is dripping, my head aches… I don’t need to tell you that I also cannot watch anything related to 9/11 without going through all that I am going through now. And it’s not just the sadness that engulfs me, but also seeing how people come together in times of need and pull through. That brings tears to my eyes as well. I cannot imagine what it must be like living just across the river. I took my girls to NYC 2 summers ago and we went to Ground Zero. I tried to explain to my youngest, 8 at the time, but I just couldn’t stop crying. Oh, I get so emotional about 9/11. Great video. Who knew? I’m going to share this with friends and family because I’m sure they don’t know either. Thank you Suzanne!
I am the same way, I cry off and on all day on Sept 11th and really anytime I talk about it. Can’t help it. I can’t imagine how a child as young as 8 would comprehend what happened. That video is amazing right, I couldn’t believe all those people got together to carry all those people to safety, people lined the way to ground zero on west end highway cheering first responders, the firefighters, police officers and volunteers. It was just amazing. We collected funds and bought boots for the search and rescue dogs, their paws were in very bad shape and they needed protection
Awwww! I LOVE that there was a collection for the dogs’ little paws! So sweet!
Dear Suzanne,
That was so moving to watch! I can never forget that day either. It was tragic and senseless!
Share your pain.
Thank you Radhika, yes it is etched in our memories and hearts thats for sure.
I LOVE that you shared this film. Our offices were at One Wall Street Court at the time. We knew about the boat lift but forgot the magnitude of how many people they moved.
Oh wow, you were right near there. I also knew about the boat lift but never just how many people were involved Amazing. Thank you.
A beautiful post Suzanne. It’s so important we all remember…
Thank you!
Suzanne-I can believe it’s been 12 years. I watched it while at work on tv in shock and immediately went privately to pray. My hubby and I went to NY the following year and to ground zero. It was crazy and sad to see all of it. I still remember all the photos of people running and the scared looks on their faces. What a tragedy. Aside from that, New York is my favorite city. Even though I love Texas with all my heart, being in New York City (I’ve been twice) made me so happy. The people are just amazing there, the energy…everything. Beautiful post.
Can’t, not “can”
:o)
Time goes by so quickly, yes it’s hard to believe it’s actually been 12 years. I do love NYC also, it’s vibrant and exciting even for those of us who live here. I love Texas too, especially since it’s where I went to high school and college, that said NYC has my heart!! Thanks Brandi.
Suzanne–thanks for the thoughtful post– wonderful photo you included.
You’re more than welcome, thank you.
I feel the same way. So sad still. The stories of how people came together to help each other are especially touching. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, it is really amazing when people come together in time of need.
thank you so much for sharing this. I can’t believe all the time that has passed.
Thank you so much!
ciao! i was watching the today show, and was in dibelief as it happened. two weeks later i was in new york and knew that the world would never be the same.
thebestdressup
Thanks so much, yes disbelief, shock and profound sadness still to this day!
Touching post, Suzanne. I remember that day so clearly. We were living in Helsinki and I was a brand-new mom with my first newborn. My Dad was coming to visit and happened to be flying at the very moment. A sense of panic washed over and I was thankful that none of my loved ones were hurt but saddened that so many lost their family members and loved ones.
It is amazing, how we can remember exactly what we were doing and where we were when it happened. It’s burned into the fiber of our being. I know people that died that day and thank God that no family member was in the buildings.
How did I miss this? Thank you so much for sharing this, Suzanne-it was truly wonderful to see. I never heard anything about this evacuation until now.
It was not publicized here in NYC either, they mentioned boatlifts but had no idea the scale of the process. Amazing. Thanks Christina.
Beautiful photo…
It really is, whoever took that photo really captured those beautiful blue lights.