September 11, 2001, I was biking alone in the Everglades, completely oblivious. When I got back to my truck and turned the radio on, instead of tunes I got the breaking news. I rushed home in horror, hoping it wasn’t true, but then I turned on the television..
23 years ago I stood on a rooftop and watched the towers fall. Life has not been the same since. I lost 37 friends and colleagues as I watched in horror, having only retired off the job 90 days previously.
My husband and I are those very rare native Philadelphians who love New York and spend a good deal of time (and money) there. We were in New York the Sunday before the attacksand actually kidded about finally visiting the Twin Towers—we knew Midtown well, but not Lower Manhattan.All was well until September 11th. I was at work when my boss stumbled in. This was odd-he was not one to stumble about anything, and discouraged any internet activity that wasn’t work-related. “Turn on your computer!” he shouted (he wasn’t one for shouting, either),“a plane flew into one of the Twin Towers!”I did, and I was horrified. Not long afterward, my workmates and I saw the second tower fall. It wasn’t “business as usual”. No one did anything business-related that day, but there was much hugging and crying. I was pretty much numb for the next few weeks, realizing that the United States was much more vulnerable than I’d imagined, that roughly three thousand innocent people were gone forever, and that I’d never get the chance to visit the Twin Towers.
I was in class when it happened, less than 2 weeks before my 16th birthday, the announcement was made over the school’s PA system, and the news’ radio broadcast was being played over it in the cafeteria. I had the earliest lunch period so I actually heard the commentary as the towers collapsed, the reporter’s shock and disbelief clear in his voice.
I heard the news as I was driving to the funeral of a patient. At that point the radio was still calling it an accident. Later I went to a major Philadelphia medical center for my mammogram. One of the receptionists was frantic, her cousin had gone to NY that day for a job interview at the Towers. At a subsequent visit she told me her cousin was okay. For another tribute that I think reflects the best in people and our country find Tom Paxton’s “The Bravest”. Several versions are on YouTube.
mysterysciencefreezer 2 months ago
I would think Marcy no longer counted as a mere nurse at this point.
crookedwolf Premium Member 2 months ago
September 11, 2001, I was biking alone in the Everglades, completely oblivious. When I got back to my truck and turned the radio on, instead of tunes I got the breaking news. I rushed home in horror, hoping it wasn’t true, but then I turned on the television..
Ellis97 2 months ago
This is so touching.
sahm.Bev1 2 months ago
As the wife of a paramedic, thank you.
Kidon Ha-Shomer 2 months ago
23 years ago I stood on a rooftop and watched the towers fall. Life has not been the same since. I lost 37 friends and colleagues as I watched in horror, having only retired off the job 90 days previously.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace 2 months ago
Because someone was offended that there were non-muslims in a Muslim country. And that was his response to the offense.
stringer831 2 months ago
My husband and I are those very rare native Philadelphians who love New York and spend a good deal of time (and money) there. We were in New York the Sunday before the attacksand actually kidded about finally visiting the Twin Towers—we knew Midtown well, but not Lower Manhattan.All was well until September 11th. I was at work when my boss stumbled in. This was odd-he was not one to stumble about anything, and discouraged any internet activity that wasn’t work-related. “Turn on your computer!” he shouted (he wasn’t one for shouting, either),“a plane flew into one of the Twin Towers!”I did, and I was horrified. Not long afterward, my workmates and I saw the second tower fall. It wasn’t “business as usual”. No one did anything business-related that day, but there was much hugging and crying. I was pretty much numb for the next few weeks, realizing that the United States was much more vulnerable than I’d imagined, that roughly three thousand innocent people were gone forever, and that I’d never get the chance to visit the Twin Towers.
yangeldf 2 months ago
I was in class when it happened, less than 2 weeks before my 16th birthday, the announcement was made over the school’s PA system, and the news’ radio broadcast was being played over it in the cafeteria. I had the earliest lunch period so I actually heard the commentary as the towers collapsed, the reporter’s shock and disbelief clear in his voice.
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 2 months ago
ON THE HUNCH WE COULD USE A LAUGH
A VERY early Laurel&Hardy comedy(only their 4th) was SLIPPING WIVES—a 1927 silent.
Laurel is a party crashing guest who is pantomiming the story of Samson and Delilah.
he concludes that when Samson tore down the temple “he killed three thousand Philadelphians”.
Mike Baldwin creator 2 months ago
Timing is everything. Count your blessings.
jhpeanut 2 months ago
It was a very sad day for America. I’ll never forget that day.
bigplayray 2 months ago
Thanks Robb.
bookworm0812 2 months ago
You could’ve called Crunchy to come in for the photo shoot. As well as anyone else that served during 9/11 and retired since.
Jingles 2 months ago
and we still haven’t nuked saudi arabia for that.
metagalaxy1970 2 months ago
This is the first comic that has remembered 9/11. What happened to “never forget”?
dimndno 2 months ago
This is the first (and only so far,) mention of 911 I’ve seen in today’s comics. Thank you Robb!
DianaDoc 2 months ago
I heard the news as I was driving to the funeral of a patient. At that point the radio was still calling it an accident. Later I went to a major Philadelphia medical center for my mammogram. One of the receptionists was frantic, her cousin had gone to NY that day for a job interview at the Towers. At a subsequent visit she told me her cousin was okay. For another tribute that I think reflects the best in people and our country find Tom Paxton’s “The Bravest”. Several versions are on YouTube.
carlosrivers 2 months ago
I’m wondering why Peterson isn’t in that picture…
Ceeg22 Premium Member 28 days ago
How come there are two cops but only one nurse and one fireman