WASHINGTON
"Where were you on 9/11?" as remembered by those in the state of Washington that day.
The son of a Spanish speaking immigrant family remembers how the language barrier made the news of the attacks feel less real.
1. "Watching the news with my mom, but I was three so I didn't understand. My mom was rather horrified, waiting for the Spanish to start up so she could fully grasp the event.
I remember sitting in front of the TV pointing out stuff to my mom whilst she tried to make me sit still and hush.
I'm rather certain I remember seeing a plane fly into a tower, and I feel like it was live, that is,
My dad was at work, and he remembers this vividly, one man had a cell phone, a big old thing, because his wife was about to give birth, but instead the call was to inform the work crew about the attack. I think someone had to translate to my dad (English to Spanish) so he could fully understand.
My mom too, now that I think about it. She couldn't believe it was real life... until she saw the Spanish news, that is. I think that's what bothered her the most. At first she thought it was a movie, but why would a movie be on so early? And besides, no one would actually do something like this.
Until the Spanish news kicked in, that is."
- W. M.
I remember sitting in front of the TV pointing out stuff to my mom whilst she tried to make me sit still and hush.
I'm rather certain I remember seeing a plane fly into a tower, and I feel like it was live, that is,
My dad was at work, and he remembers this vividly, one man had a cell phone, a big old thing, because his wife was about to give birth, but instead the call was to inform the work crew about the attack. I think someone had to translate to my dad (English to Spanish) so he could fully understand.
My mom too, now that I think about it. She couldn't believe it was real life... until she saw the Spanish news, that is. I think that's what bothered her the most. At first she thought it was a movie, but why would a movie be on so early? And besides, no one would actually do something like this.
Until the Spanish news kicked in, that is."
- W. M.
Written Stories
2. "I was eight years old, living in Seattle. As he usually did, my dad woke me and my brother up for school but on this day he told us that the Twin Towers had collapsed. I couldn't believe it; we'd been in NYC less than a month before the attacks to see relatives and even visited the Top of the World Trade Center.
I didn't fully comprehend the scope of the events until I saw TV footage that evening of a Tweety Bird cutout in all the rubble. The last time I'd seen Tweety Bird, it had been inside the World Trade Center...
- K. S.
I didn't fully comprehend the scope of the events until I saw TV footage that evening of a Tweety Bird cutout in all the rubble. The last time I'd seen Tweety Bird, it had been inside the World Trade Center...
- K. S.
4. "I was passed out on my floor from watching ESPN the night before, the Mariners were unbeatable that year.
I woke up early to go to work and the news had taken over. Within minutes the first tower fell and I remember thinking that they should have gotten most people out because that building must have been on fire for hours..
I remember watching firefighters running away and one threw their helmet down in anger.
I woke up all my passed out roommates and was like,
'Dude, they kicked our ass.'
I walked to work at a vegan restaurant in the U District and told the owner, who hated TV, what had happened. We had the dining room TV on all day as people showed up. They just needed some comfort that day.
- D. S.
I woke up early to go to work and the news had taken over. Within minutes the first tower fell and I remember thinking that they should have gotten most people out because that building must have been on fire for hours..
I remember watching firefighters running away and one threw their helmet down in anger.
I woke up all my passed out roommates and was like,
'Dude, they kicked our ass.'
I walked to work at a vegan restaurant in the U District and told the owner, who hated TV, what had happened. We had the dining room TV on all day as people showed up. They just needed some comfort that day.
- D. S.
3. "I was eight years old, living with my grandparents. My grandmother woke me well before the usual wake up time for school and sat sat me in front of the TV just as the second tower was hit. She told me,
'This is history in progress.'
I was so young that I didn't understand the full importance and impact at the time, but my grandmother made sure I did not forget it.
I couldn’t tell you if I went to school that day, I couldn’t tell you if I even went outside. What I do remember is watching the news as it was unfolding, on a tiny box TV on the floor of my grandparents’ trailer."
- Alison G.
'This is history in progress.'
I was so young that I didn't understand the full importance and impact at the time, but my grandmother made sure I did not forget it.
I couldn’t tell you if I went to school that day, I couldn’t tell you if I even went outside. What I do remember is watching the news as it was unfolding, on a tiny box TV on the floor of my grandparents’ trailer."
- Alison G.
5. "I was in Seattle. The alarm clock radio went off at 5:45 am and I was in a sleep filled haze when the very first reports came in. All I can remember was telling my boyfriend,
'Something is happening in NYC. It isn't important to us.'
And I tried to get another eight mins of sleep. When my boyfriend got up to take a shower, I laid in bed becoming more and more aware of what was happening. As a former New Yorker my heart began to sink. We still didn’t know how bad it was going to get.
He left for work and I got up and turned on the TV and computers.
‘This can’t be happening. What the hell is going on?’
I worried for friends and family in New York, I watched way too much, I saw way too much. I shut down. I cried and became numb until I couldn’t cry or become anymore numb.
I walked out of our place in Ballard around 1:00 pm and wandered towards Fremont to a bar I knew that had no TV. Everyone at the bar was either crying or numb as well.
I remember meeting a guy from England who was in Seattle on holiday. With airspace ground, he now couldn’t get home. I stayed with him until my boyfriend joined me at the Fremont bar. The three of us then went to Maritime.
At this point I was either too drunk or too numb to remember anything else. I remember saying good luck to our English friend and that's it.
I later found out my friends and family were all safe. I cried an unhealthy amount that day, so much was a blur, or maybe it’s just a coping mechanism for me.
- B. Y.
'Something is happening in NYC. It isn't important to us.'
And I tried to get another eight mins of sleep. When my boyfriend got up to take a shower, I laid in bed becoming more and more aware of what was happening. As a former New Yorker my heart began to sink. We still didn’t know how bad it was going to get.
He left for work and I got up and turned on the TV and computers.
‘This can’t be happening. What the hell is going on?’
I worried for friends and family in New York, I watched way too much, I saw way too much. I shut down. I cried and became numb until I couldn’t cry or become anymore numb.
I walked out of our place in Ballard around 1:00 pm and wandered towards Fremont to a bar I knew that had no TV. Everyone at the bar was either crying or numb as well.
I remember meeting a guy from England who was in Seattle on holiday. With airspace ground, he now couldn’t get home. I stayed with him until my boyfriend joined me at the Fremont bar. The three of us then went to Maritime.
At this point I was either too drunk or too numb to remember anything else. I remember saying good luck to our English friend and that's it.
I later found out my friends and family were all safe. I cried an unhealthy amount that day, so much was a blur, or maybe it’s just a coping mechanism for me.
- B. Y.
6. "I was at home, took bus to work, saw it on the news well after it happened via a TV in the break room. When I came home my roommate was in tears. I took them to dinner at Costas on University Ave. to get away."
- O. A.
- O. A.
7. "I was working downtown at 5th and Marion in Seattle. I watched the national news while getting ready for work and I distinctly remember Katie Couric (Today Show anchor) saying that a small plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings. I left my house in Snohomish county, and got on the bus. Everyone was very quiet, and got even more quiet as we got closer to town.
I got off the bus just south of the Columbia Center, and as I was leaving someone said another plane hit the WTC. When I walked north on 5th, everyone was looking up and there were no planes in the sky, none at all. Very odd for the Puget Sound region.
I got into work, and we all huddled around a little black and white CRT TV that one guy had at his desk for watching Mariners games. We watched one of the towers collapse, and I got up, walked outside, and called my mom on the east coast. She didn't answer, but I left a message that was something like,
'Hi Mom. Something happened in NY today, doesn't seem like it's happening here. I am OK and I'll call you as soon as I can.'
That was the last time my cell could call out for three days.
All of a sudden a reverse rush hour erupted as everyone bailed out of downtown. We stayed there in our little building for a couple of hours, then everyone went home to absorb the news."
- Z. D.
I got off the bus just south of the Columbia Center, and as I was leaving someone said another plane hit the WTC. When I walked north on 5th, everyone was looking up and there were no planes in the sky, none at all. Very odd for the Puget Sound region.
I got into work, and we all huddled around a little black and white CRT TV that one guy had at his desk for watching Mariners games. We watched one of the towers collapse, and I got up, walked outside, and called my mom on the east coast. She didn't answer, but I left a message that was something like,
'Hi Mom. Something happened in NY today, doesn't seem like it's happening here. I am OK and I'll call you as soon as I can.'
That was the last time my cell could call out for three days.
All of a sudden a reverse rush hour erupted as everyone bailed out of downtown. We stayed there in our little building for a couple of hours, then everyone went home to absorb the news."
- Z. D.
8. "I was working the 5 am to 1:30 shift at a small town grocery store. Customers started coming in telling us shocking, but incomplete bits. The store owner brought the TV down from the break room and we clustered around it trying to make sense of the incomprehensible destruction we saw, grappling with the agony of an unanswerable why. I can still picture the bodies falling, people who would rather jump than burn, taking final agency for their final moments.
My son was born July 2001 and he’s never known a time when we weren’t at war, never known a time before we lived in this shadow."
- V. C.
My son was born July 2001 and he’s never known a time when we weren’t at war, never known a time before we lived in this shadow."
- V. C.
9. "I was living in my first own house, white picket fence included, on a quiet street in a friendly, peaceful neighborhood. It was another warm, summer morning and I woke up early to water the plants.
While outside, my favorite neighbor asked me if I'd heard about a plane flying into a building in NYC. As I was going back in the house to see the news, I noticed a big chunk of concrete missing from the top corner step and wondered what had happened.
I went inside and turned on the television. It looked like a horrible accident and I felt so sad for the people on the airplane.
Then suddenly the newscaster switched over to live footage of the second airplane hitting the second tower. Over and over the station played the event and I started saying aloud,
'They hit in on purpose, they aimed for it!'
All I could do was sit, then stand, angry, confused, sad, in disbelief someone aimed for the building on purpose. My 7 year old, never being one to miss any action, came into the room asking what happened. It didn't dawn on me in my shocked state of mind to shield him from the news. I simply told him there's no going to school today.
I called my other half at work and told him he should come home. had no idea what to do, other than to make sure my family was together.
I do remember asking the kids about the corner of the step missing a chunk of concrete by afternoon that day. Apparently one of their friends had done it playing around.
That ugly step never did get fixed. It became so normal I rarely noticed it after the first few months. Every once in a while when I did notice it, it was a reminder that whatever else is going on doesn't matter nearly as much as us all being together. I wonder now that we don't live there anymore how much it bothers the new owners, or how long it will take them to realize it's not important."
- J. F.
While outside, my favorite neighbor asked me if I'd heard about a plane flying into a building in NYC. As I was going back in the house to see the news, I noticed a big chunk of concrete missing from the top corner step and wondered what had happened.
I went inside and turned on the television. It looked like a horrible accident and I felt so sad for the people on the airplane.
Then suddenly the newscaster switched over to live footage of the second airplane hitting the second tower. Over and over the station played the event and I started saying aloud,
'They hit in on purpose, they aimed for it!'
All I could do was sit, then stand, angry, confused, sad, in disbelief someone aimed for the building on purpose. My 7 year old, never being one to miss any action, came into the room asking what happened. It didn't dawn on me in my shocked state of mind to shield him from the news. I simply told him there's no going to school today.
I called my other half at work and told him he should come home. had no idea what to do, other than to make sure my family was together.
I do remember asking the kids about the corner of the step missing a chunk of concrete by afternoon that day. Apparently one of their friends had done it playing around.
That ugly step never did get fixed. It became so normal I rarely noticed it after the first few months. Every once in a while when I did notice it, it was a reminder that whatever else is going on doesn't matter nearly as much as us all being together. I wonder now that we don't live there anymore how much it bothers the new owners, or how long it will take them to realize it's not important."
- J. F.
10. "I woke up hungover in Pullman. I was a part time student, full time delivery driver, part time street racer, full time pot head. I woke up and turned the radio on and took a shower. They were talking about the first building being struck by a plane and I was thinking this is a crazy plot for the next Tom Clancy novel.
When I got out of the shower, I turned on the TV just int time to see the second plane strike. I spent the entire day in front of that TV. I heard from the closest relative I had in Buffalo NY and was slightly relieved no one I knew was in any danger but watched the news the entire week straight. Classes were canceled, I honestly don't remember working either. I cleaned up my act and joined the Army in late 2003. I have deployed twice to Afghanistan fighting the actual Taliban in their home area Khandahar/Helmond, and once to Iraq fighting ISIL."
- W. G.
When I got out of the shower, I turned on the TV just int time to see the second plane strike. I spent the entire day in front of that TV. I heard from the closest relative I had in Buffalo NY and was slightly relieved no one I knew was in any danger but watched the news the entire week straight. Classes were canceled, I honestly don't remember working either. I cleaned up my act and joined the Army in late 2003. I have deployed twice to Afghanistan fighting the actual Taliban in their home area Khandahar/Helmond, and once to Iraq fighting ISIL."
- W. G.
11. "I woke up around 6 am and my mom told me that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. I immediately went to the TV and saw every news channel was broadcasting LIVE what was unfolding. As I was getting ready for trade school classes, I would periodically peek at the news for updates. The South Tower collapsed while I was in the bathroom and thirty minutes later I heard a loud commotion on the TV so I came out of the bathroom to look.
I saw the North Tower coming down and I literally cut my face with the razor out of horror. By then I was glued to the TV up until 7:45-ish when I left for school. Everyone in class was in the side room watching the news coverage on TV. At 8:05, our department head walked in and announced to everyone that classes were cancelled for the day and we were sent home. I spent the rest of the day at the TV and took that night off from work."
- O. I.
I saw the North Tower coming down and I literally cut my face with the razor out of horror. By then I was glued to the TV up until 7:45-ish when I left for school. Everyone in class was in the side room watching the news coverage on TV. At 8:05, our department head walked in and announced to everyone that classes were cancelled for the day and we were sent home. I spent the rest of the day at the TV and took that night off from work."
- O. I.
13. "I first heard of 9/11 when I turned on the car radio on my way to work in Bellevue. I was absolutely stunned by what I was hearing and while I was driving I called my husband to tell him about it.
When I got to work, no one could focus on their job. People communally stood by the televisions and silently watched.
Later that morning, my sister-in-law in Massachusetts called to tell me that I knew someone on one of the planes that hit a tower. Her name was Lisa and she was my next door neighbor from childhood. She was a wife and a mother. I remember that she was very kind to me.
I found it very difficult to not cry at work that day. I probably was the only person in my company who personally knew a victim that day. I may have been 3000 miles away from the events, but it felt very very close to me."
- Anonymous
When I got to work, no one could focus on their job. People communally stood by the televisions and silently watched.
Later that morning, my sister-in-law in Massachusetts called to tell me that I knew someone on one of the planes that hit a tower. Her name was Lisa and she was my next door neighbor from childhood. She was a wife and a mother. I remember that she was very kind to me.
I found it very difficult to not cry at work that day. I probably was the only person in my company who personally knew a victim that day. I may have been 3000 miles away from the events, but it felt very very close to me."
- Anonymous
12. "September 11th, 2001 was my 16th birthday. I remember it well for that reason.
Waking up for school, my mom had me come downstairs to show me what was on TV. We sat there staring in disbelief, not comprehending what had happened when the second plane hit! Reports started flooding in of there being other planes/threats.
We hurriedly got ready for school, but classes weren't really held - every classroom had the TV on and the 'lessons' consisted of us watching the news. I don't recall if we stayed for the entire day, but no classwork was done.
I had planned a birthday party playing games at the local mall arcade with my close friends. The mall itself was open, but most stores were closed including the arcade. We called it and went back home, defeated by the day. I chose not to celebrate any further.
I learned weeks later that my best friend's mother had purchased a birthday balloon for me, but chose not to give it to me. The message on the balloon was,
'I hope you have a blast on your birthday"
Needless to say, I did not. Although years later that story has become the preferred memory when recalling that fateful day."
- Tristan Powell
Waking up for school, my mom had me come downstairs to show me what was on TV. We sat there staring in disbelief, not comprehending what had happened when the second plane hit! Reports started flooding in of there being other planes/threats.
We hurriedly got ready for school, but classes weren't really held - every classroom had the TV on and the 'lessons' consisted of us watching the news. I don't recall if we stayed for the entire day, but no classwork was done.
I had planned a birthday party playing games at the local mall arcade with my close friends. The mall itself was open, but most stores were closed including the arcade. We called it and went back home, defeated by the day. I chose not to celebrate any further.
I learned weeks later that my best friend's mother had purchased a birthday balloon for me, but chose not to give it to me. The message on the balloon was,
'I hope you have a blast on your birthday"
Needless to say, I did not. Although years later that story has become the preferred memory when recalling that fateful day."
- Tristan Powell
14. "I was in 3rd grade and my mom came into my room to wake me up around 6:00. We were glued to the screen, wondering how a pilot could crash into such a massive building on what was a perfectly clear day. It was such a difficult thing to wrap our heads around yet our minds couldn't even fathom that this could've been a deliberate act.
We were watching The Today Show when we witnessed the second plane fly directly into the other tower like a missile and our jaws hit the floor. We knew instantly this was indeed deliberate. Even as apocalyptic a sight as it was to see gaping, burning holes in those towers and people jumping from the windows we still were under the assumption that firefighters would eventually make it to the impacted floors, put out the fires, and evacuate the survivors. The worst of it was over, we thought. We were so incredibly wrong. Nobody thought those buildings would come down and all I could think of were all those people I'd seen hanging out of the windows clinging to the hope that they'd soon be rescued.
They all just perished in an instant.
I remember hearing that the White House and the Capitol Building had been evacuated. We then saw live footage showing plumes of smoke rising from the Pentagon and listened as news correspondents confirmed it had been struck by yet another hijacked passenger plane. Watching all of this play out in real time was so surreal, it felt as if we were living in some kind of doomsday movie. Seeing my country fall under attack and the feelings of anxiety and fear not knowing what was coming next or when these attacks would stop is something I will never forget.
Later that morning while watching the local news, we started hearing reports that Los Angeles and Seattle were likely to be targeted next. I lived a little over an hour outside of Seattle. The thought of these -- at the time -- faceless enemies coming to my home and wreaking havoc in my state really scared me. I eventually had to go to school that morning and I remember it was like we were all zombies just going through motions of the school day. All of us -- the students, teachers, administrators -- were mentally checked out. We all just wanted to be at home with our families. All day I couldn't shake the fear that at any moment Seattle -- just down the freeway from my town -- would be under attack.
The one positive memory I'll always hold onto from that period was the incredible national unity over that following year. Seeing hundreds of millions of Americans all pulling in the same direction for the same cause was amazing to experience. No matter how bad things get in this country I will always be optimistic about America's future because I've witnessed the power of our nation when all of us are united as one."
- Drew L.
We were watching The Today Show when we witnessed the second plane fly directly into the other tower like a missile and our jaws hit the floor. We knew instantly this was indeed deliberate. Even as apocalyptic a sight as it was to see gaping, burning holes in those towers and people jumping from the windows we still were under the assumption that firefighters would eventually make it to the impacted floors, put out the fires, and evacuate the survivors. The worst of it was over, we thought. We were so incredibly wrong. Nobody thought those buildings would come down and all I could think of were all those people I'd seen hanging out of the windows clinging to the hope that they'd soon be rescued.
They all just perished in an instant.
I remember hearing that the White House and the Capitol Building had been evacuated. We then saw live footage showing plumes of smoke rising from the Pentagon and listened as news correspondents confirmed it had been struck by yet another hijacked passenger plane. Watching all of this play out in real time was so surreal, it felt as if we were living in some kind of doomsday movie. Seeing my country fall under attack and the feelings of anxiety and fear not knowing what was coming next or when these attacks would stop is something I will never forget.
Later that morning while watching the local news, we started hearing reports that Los Angeles and Seattle were likely to be targeted next. I lived a little over an hour outside of Seattle. The thought of these -- at the time -- faceless enemies coming to my home and wreaking havoc in my state really scared me. I eventually had to go to school that morning and I remember it was like we were all zombies just going through motions of the school day. All of us -- the students, teachers, administrators -- were mentally checked out. We all just wanted to be at home with our families. All day I couldn't shake the fear that at any moment Seattle -- just down the freeway from my town -- would be under attack.
The one positive memory I'll always hold onto from that period was the incredible national unity over that following year. Seeing hundreds of millions of Americans all pulling in the same direction for the same cause was amazing to experience. No matter how bad things get in this country I will always be optimistic about America's future because I've witnessed the power of our nation when all of us are united as one."
- Drew L.
15. "The morning of 9/11 is my oldest true memory. I was four years old and I remember waking up and wandering into the living room to find my parents glued to the TV. There was an image of smoke coming from the towers on the news-- but it was the real local news, so it couldn't be a movie. My parents were so tense, I knew something bad had happened. My dad said that we were going to go to war, and my mom was horrified as she asked if those were people jumping from the towers.
I didn't know what she meant at the time.
My dad explained what happened and I learned what terrorists were. I had lots of questions. I remember asking why anybody would do something like that. I got very grown-up answers like that some people will do horrific things truly believing that what they're doing is right, and that others just want to cause suffering. The scale of my little world expanded tremendously that day. It's the first time I was aware of all the other people on Earth living their lives that I didn't know about. I wasn't too concerned because my dad said we'd be okay, and I still admire how he handled the news that day and telling me about it without sugar-coating it but sparing the gory details."
- Mia W.
I didn't know what she meant at the time.
My dad explained what happened and I learned what terrorists were. I had lots of questions. I remember asking why anybody would do something like that. I got very grown-up answers like that some people will do horrific things truly believing that what they're doing is right, and that others just want to cause suffering. The scale of my little world expanded tremendously that day. It's the first time I was aware of all the other people on Earth living their lives that I didn't know about. I wasn't too concerned because my dad said we'd be okay, and I still admire how he handled the news that day and telling me about it without sugar-coating it but sparing the gory details."
- Mia W.
16. "I was a 6th grader at Chief Kanim Middle school, in Fall City, Washington. I remember it very well.
We got to school early due to the bus having good traffic conditions. A few minutes after we got there, the PA speakers called us into our homerooms. The teachers were explaining what happened and playing the news right after the second plane hit the Twin Towers. I remember watching the towers collapse.
We had no classes that day. I went home and asked my parents why someone would do something so horrible. My father told me something that night that has stuck with me for the rest of my life.
'Hatred knows no logic. It knows no reason. Hatred can make people do things that would otherwise be unthinkable to others.'"
- Jacob Lynch
We got to school early due to the bus having good traffic conditions. A few minutes after we got there, the PA speakers called us into our homerooms. The teachers were explaining what happened and playing the news right after the second plane hit the Twin Towers. I remember watching the towers collapse.
We had no classes that day. I went home and asked my parents why someone would do something so horrible. My father told me something that night that has stuck with me for the rest of my life.
'Hatred knows no logic. It knows no reason. Hatred can make people do things that would otherwise be unthinkable to others.'"
- Jacob Lynch
17. "It was a few days before my 18th birthday and I registered for the selective service that morning of September 11th, before the attacks. We hadn't had the draft since Vietnam and I couldn't imagine something drastic would happen to change that.
The draft never happened, but on that afternoon I was certain it would. I knew there would be a war and I would be fighting in it."
- Marik
The draft never happened, but on that afternoon I was certain it would. I knew there would be a war and I would be fighting in it."
- Marik
18. "I awoke to my usual getting ready for school routine with the family. As I'm sitting there watching ESPN, there was breaking news coverage about a plane going into the first tower.
'Hey Mom!'
My Mom was in awe, but didn't give it much further thought because it just seemed like a horrific accident. Then another plane struck the other tower! Mom was confused and worried but hurried us to school.
Everyone was talking about it in each class. When third period P.E came up, I got a phone call to come to the office.
Waiting for me was my radical older brother who is ranting about how the world is ending and how we need to figure out what's a solid plan for survival. Shortly after getting home, my mother arrived too and gave my brother an ear chewing of a lifetime! She sent us back to school and for the remainder of the school day we talked about how we felt in each period."
- Anonymous
'Hey Mom!'
My Mom was in awe, but didn't give it much further thought because it just seemed like a horrific accident. Then another plane struck the other tower! Mom was confused and worried but hurried us to school.
Everyone was talking about it in each class. When third period P.E came up, I got a phone call to come to the office.
Waiting for me was my radical older brother who is ranting about how the world is ending and how we need to figure out what's a solid plan for survival. Shortly after getting home, my mother arrived too and gave my brother an ear chewing of a lifetime! She sent us back to school and for the remainder of the school day we talked about how we felt in each period."
- Anonymous
19. "I was a 2nd grader at Immaculate Conception Regional School in Mount Vernon. None of us really understood what was going on, but we all got together at recess by the old wooden Big Toy to talk about the explosions we had seen on TV."
- D. C.
- D. C.
20. "I had graduated high school and started a job as a wildland firefighter that summer. It was exciting - I had money, a cool job, and was enjoying friends and freedom. Most mornings before work I'd swing by the grocery store to get lunch for the day. I brought my lunch to the check-out clerk and asked,
'How is your morning going!'
'Terrible. Someone flew planes into the World Trade Center.'
Life was never the same."
- P. S.
'How is your morning going!'
'Terrible. Someone flew planes into the World Trade Center.'
Life was never the same."
- P. S.
21. "On the road, we had breakfast at a restaurant in Prosser called The Barn - western themed, wagon wheels and old implements lining the parking lot. We learned about the attacks from our waitress and went in to the bar to watch the only television. On my way out, I looked to display wagon wheels the settlers used.
'The settlers terrorized the Native Americans.
Do you think we’ll ever learn?'"
- Anonymous
'The settlers terrorized the Native Americans.
Do you think we’ll ever learn?'"
- Anonymous
22. "I had a crazy bad hangover from the night before 9/11. Majorly delayed flight into Sea-Tac. First class. I remember sitting next to some guy from Israel during that trip. He had a lot of insight into the Middle East.
When I got out of bed the nest morning, hungover as hell and heading north on I-5, I was listening to the radio. I thought these asshole shock jocks are too much, joking about flying airplanes into buildings, so I turned it off.
I walked into the breakfast joint in Sumas about 100 miles north of Seattle, where the crew I was going to work with all week was eating breakfast and watching TV. It slowly sunk into my thick skull."
- S. T.
When I got out of bed the nest morning, hungover as hell and heading north on I-5, I was listening to the radio. I thought these asshole shock jocks are too much, joking about flying airplanes into buildings, so I turned it off.
I walked into the breakfast joint in Sumas about 100 miles north of Seattle, where the crew I was going to work with all week was eating breakfast and watching TV. It slowly sunk into my thick skull."
- S. T.
23. "I lived in Seattle Washington at the time. My sister and I had taken a vacation to Long Beach in the southwest of the state, it was near my birthday on the 14th. I remember how foggy and remote it was, far away from the city, we purposefully didn't watch TV, just read and relaxed. On the morning of 9/12 we both noticed how quiet it was but we took a drive up north, walked on the beach, let my dog run and picked up some sand dollars. There was no one else around, just blowing fog and salt air.
On our way back we noticed the flags were at half mast and I saw a newspaper box with papers inside with what looked like a large headline. So we stopped, I got out and paid for the paper, I remember the hinges were really rusty and I struggled to get it open. I read the headline and saw the big color picture of the first tower collapsing. As we drove back to the seaside cottage I rolled the paper on my lap and told my sister there had been a bombing. We spread the paper out on the little table in the cottage and then turned on the TV. We could not believe it. So much had happened and the quiet was gone, that 24 hours of not knowing felt like stolen, secret time. The cottage's landlady had disappeared so we left a check under the door and went home early."
- Karen Dorweiler
On our way back we noticed the flags were at half mast and I saw a newspaper box with papers inside with what looked like a large headline. So we stopped, I got out and paid for the paper, I remember the hinges were really rusty and I struggled to get it open. I read the headline and saw the big color picture of the first tower collapsing. As we drove back to the seaside cottage I rolled the paper on my lap and told my sister there had been a bombing. We spread the paper out on the little table in the cottage and then turned on the TV. We could not believe it. So much had happened and the quiet was gone, that 24 hours of not knowing felt like stolen, secret time. The cottage's landlady had disappeared so we left a check under the door and went home early."
- Karen Dorweiler
24. "I was a college student in Seattle, sleeping on the couch in my apartment. My roommate, who worked the graveyard shift at Harborview, came into our apartment and woke me up by yelling,
'We're going to war!'
We turned on the TV just in time to see the first tower fall."
- Joe Tynan
'We're going to war!'
We turned on the TV just in time to see the first tower fall."
- Joe Tynan
25. "I was a 2nd grader at Schmitz Park Elementary School in Seattle. I wok up turned on the the TV to watch cartoons before breakfast but all that was on PBS was the news - some building burning on TV. My mom was getting ready for work and when she came out the bathroom, I asked,
'Why aren't the cartoons on?'
She said,
'A very sad thing happened this morning. There was a plane accident in another city,'
Then the second plane hit the other tower."
- Austin VanWormer
'Why aren't the cartoons on?'
She said,
'A very sad thing happened this morning. There was a plane accident in another city,'
Then the second plane hit the other tower."
- Austin VanWormer