This is the week of remembering. Remembering the devastating events that occurred on 9/11. Where were you on 9/11, 2001? I remember where I was. I was in the air on my first trip to Europe. Completely oblivious to the worldly happenings.
When Larry and I arrived in London, no one told us what was happening in America. Clearly, we were Yanks come to England. But, not a word from anyone. Nothing from the airplane personnel. Nothing from customs. Nothing.
We took the train to Trafalgar Square where we purchased tickets for the night’s performance in the venue often occupied by St. Martins in the Fields. Still no comment from anyone about what happened in America that morning.
Walking around Trafalgar Square, we saw black cars filled with police officers rushing here and there. We didn’t ask anyone if that was a common occurrence. We spent about three hours in the Square, visiting shops – mostly, book stores. I had read 84 Charing Cross Road before taking this first trip to Europe. We searched for 84 Charing Cross Road, a real place from the book. We found the location¸ but it had been turned into a pizza parlor. I was sad because the book store was gone.
London was our first stop over that trip. When Marie Helene picked us up about four in the afternoon, she told us what was happening. I attempted to call family in the U.S. I was sure they would be concerned for our safety. Of course, no calls were getting into the U.S. My family didn’t have e-mail capability, at that time. I wrote to my colleague at the university, hoping she would pick up the message when she came to work the next morning and give my family a call. And, she did. All of the time we were in England and easily identifiable as being from the U.S., we received many pats on the back, hugs, and condolences from strangers.
The night we went to the concert at the St. Martins in the Fields venue, we asked the ticket seller why he had not talked with us about the morning in New York. He said, he thought we knew. We talked a lot about the attack with a lot of people while in London. It clearly was on everyone’s mind, with people wondering if this could happen in their country.
Our entire trip in London, Brussels, and France had lots of questions about the U.S. and the attack. Of course, we really knew nothing about what had happened, except that this despicable act had been committed. Even on the Thalys from Brussels to Marie Helene’s family’s home just outside of Paris, we sat across from a gentleman who had question after question. It’s then that we realized we had become spokespersons for the U.S. for the people we met. They wanted to know. We wanted to know. And, we had no answers for them or for us.
We were not even sure that we would be able to use our return airline tickets to get back into the U.S. when our time to be in Europe was over. We had no difficulty, though. We flew from the De Gaulle airport to London and home to Denver.
Our first trip to Europe had such a tragic beginning. And, I pray that I never have to experience those destructive events, again!
Be Safe and Be Well.
The Cranky Crone
Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
3 replies on “Where Were You?”
I was alone in my mother’s townhome when the attack happened. My mother was in the hospital having a splenectomy, part of the illness that would claim her life just a few months later. I went to the hospital to tell her about the attack. My flight home was canceled, along with all the other flights in the U.S. I had to drive to a local United Airlines office a few days later to wait in line to book a new flight home. Everyone was patient and kind. We could use more patience and kindness today.
I was subbing in a 6th grade music class at Hamilton Middle School. Not being a music teacher, the lesson plan I had been given was to show a video in the small auditorium as it was called. We were having trouble getting the video going – I was not much of a technician – and I accidentally turned on the TV and got the regular station. The video of the plane hitting the first tower was on and one of the little guys said “oh wow! I love airplane wrecks”. I saw it wasn’t a movie and turned around and chewed him out saying…”there are people dying there.” Little did I know. I really don’t remember much the rest of the day.
Getting ready for work and school. Went in, only be told that the Federal Center was being evacuated and we were all sent home. It was surreal. I think I might have been in shock or denial or something. I’m not trying to downplay the fact that 9/11 was the most deadly terror such in history (at least by a non governmental entity) but i do think Europeans and Asians have had far more terrorist attacks than the US has had. Maybe they are more jaded having lived under that fear for so long.