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September 2008
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Watching the coverage of the anniversary of 9-11 this morning it felt like yesterday.I find it hard to watch the images even seven years later. The first tower had already been hit when the phone rang that morning. I was up in time for number two. Seven years ago my parents were still alive. I called my Mom on the way to work just to make sure they were okay. She seemed disoriented and fragile as she cried on the phone asking me "What's going on sugar? Are there more coming?" Now we know of course there were. Looking back I think it was especially hard for people like my folks. My parents were married three weeks after the bombing of I don't know what you remember most that day. For me it was the police officers and firefighters rushing into the burning buildings while everyone else ran out. The stories of people who chose to stay with their disabled co-workers who couldn't get down the stairs. The gut wrenching scene of people wandering through ground zero carrying pictures of their loved ones asking if anyone had seen them. My mother's sad voice. Surrounded by the images and the stories for ten hours a day in the newsroom, we were all pretty overwhelmed those days. Even so far away, it felt so close. I got an email a few days later from a viewer disgusted with me. He said I always looked like I was near tears on the air and it was very unprofessional. He was right. I was close to tears and felt embarrassed. From then on I would try not to look at the video when I read the stories on the air for fear I would come apart. One of our directors would try to warn me what was coming with a simple, "shields up." Then as fate would have it a month later on a short vacation, we met a I was thinking about them as I drove in today. I can tell you that he wasn't embarrassed by his tears. And I'm not embarrassed anymore either. Remembering can be hard, but it seems like the least we can do. As always, thanks for watching. Tracy Barry 2 CommentsLeave a comment |
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Tracy,
That morning, I was barely awake when the first plane hit. At first I thought that I had been dreaming. But then it got replayed a couple of times. I woke up my husband and we saw the second plane hit. An American nightmare. It was hard seeing my husband go off to his job that morning. I sat glued to my television. I could not stop watching all the images of that day. I wondered what was becoming of us all. I prayed for those lost and those left behind.
As I watched this morning, the emotions were still as strong as then. Watching all of the loved ones reading the names of the lost. Something still breaks in my heart. Those people gone too soon.
But America will never forget and I have to hope that we will always do whatever it takes to make sure it never happens again.
I know I never take my life for granted anymore.
Seven years ago I turned on the TV in my bedroom as I was getting ready for work; I never turned on the TV in the morning but always enjoyed music instead. So, I'm in my bathroom and I can hear that a plane just hit a building in New York, I stepped out of the bathroom and remained fixed staring at the TV until I HAD to leave for work. I remember I wanted to hug my grown kids and granddaughter and then I thought, I wish I had someone to hug me. My LIFE was work with long hours and when my job would slow down I would look for a part-time job. It wasn't about the money, it was about the empty feeling inside; a divorced.."older" woman, it didn't seem like my life had value anymore. That day made me look at my life or lack of one....three months later I met my husband and we just celebrated our 5th anniversary. I AM so very happy!! My guy is big, 6'4" and a gives great hugs. Out of pain joy can be found, I just wish it hadn't taken something so horrible to make me realize the value of life. Bless you and your tears.."let um roll"