RHODE ISLAND
"Where were you on 9/11?" as remembered by those in Rhode Island that day.
A Rhode Island resident remembers how the mundane moments of what seemed like a boring day still resonate with him today.
1. "I took the day off work and decided to buy a vacuum cleaner for my yellow lab puppy Muse and clean house. So I got home, had a cuppa with this girl I had over and we turn on NBC.
That's when the second plane hit. Then we saw the first tower come down.
This girl I'm with, she giggles in absolute nervousness and I realize it's time to get away and we head out for a bit.
Two hours later I'm home and the second tower is down. We finally vacuum my house.
At work the next day we hang a big American flag from a crane and I feel something missing.
It's one of those primeval senses that's hard to describe like being away for awhile and coming home. The smell of the ocean, anywhere. Something that's been there my whole life.
This time it's the silence in the sky.
The girl left, I don't exactly remember the date... And I had to put Muse down. I remember that one, she died in a very different September. She was a very good girl. I still have the vacuum, it's yellow.
It's all I have left from that day."
- W. W.
That's when the second plane hit. Then we saw the first tower come down.
This girl I'm with, she giggles in absolute nervousness and I realize it's time to get away and we head out for a bit.
Two hours later I'm home and the second tower is down. We finally vacuum my house.
At work the next day we hang a big American flag from a crane and I feel something missing.
It's one of those primeval senses that's hard to describe like being away for awhile and coming home. The smell of the ocean, anywhere. Something that's been there my whole life.
This time it's the silence in the sky.
The girl left, I don't exactly remember the date... And I had to put Muse down. I remember that one, she died in a very different September. She was a very good girl. I still have the vacuum, it's yellow.
It's all I have left from that day."
- W. W.
Written Stories
2. "Walked my oldest to one of his first days of kindergarten in Woonsocket. Came home to the pregnant wife. Said to her belly,
'Let's see what's going on in our world today.'
I turned on the TV and they were talking about an accident and showing the World Trade Center burning. I woke the wife up. Said, 'We're under attack.'
We watched as it happened again with the second plane.
Later watching the Pentagon report there was vibration and the reporter said something was going on there too.
I can recall much more, but I don't want to dwell on it."
- P. O.
'Let's see what's going on in our world today.'
I turned on the TV and they were talking about an accident and showing the World Trade Center burning. I woke the wife up. Said, 'We're under attack.'
We watched as it happened again with the second plane.
Later watching the Pentagon report there was vibration and the reporter said something was going on there too.
I can recall much more, but I don't want to dwell on it."
- P. O.