The Voice Still Trembles
09-04-01
the end of a memorable week in NYC we are on a plane back to Colorado our daughter on a plane back to Oklahoma little did I know the photo still in my camera of her sitting on the hotel bed with the stately towers providing the backdrop would become a most cherished one the very last one of the two giants providing the outline for that famous skyline gone forever but forever an image in my mind
09-11-01
the beginning of a usual day sunrise wrestling with the dogs coffee then the news standing in the exact place in my kitchen when the news of the Oklahoma City bombing flashed across the screen
a pendulum of emotions and thoughts fear hope disbelief hope confusion hope pain hope panic hope horror hope hope hope
a snapshot in time...Kennedy, Space Shuttle, first imgaes of Desert Storm, Oklahoma City and now such vivid detail all my senses engage first plane maybe an accident second plane who is Osama bin Laden Pentagon attacked on our own soil Flight 93 how many more planes
find the phone fingers shake uncontrollably dialing a Staten Island number all circuits busy fingers dial every Staten Island number in planner finally a trembling voice Hello where are they they being four of our New York City firefighter/policemen friends we don't know we can see the smoke from here not wanting to hang up for fear of losing contact with the voice at the other end of the connection clinging to every word please call back this is a nightmare please wake up each minute is an eternity waiting for the call about our friends hours pass then the call comes the ring of the phone fills the air with sheer panic my hand is frozen then moves in slow motion the news comes all four friends are safe but so many of their brothers, sisters, friends are unaccounted for now they are our friends, too days pass stories range from sheer horror to miracles out nation rallies together why does it take a tragedy five years later, where are we
09-11-06 5:30 a.m.
Staten Island called this morning five years later the voice still trembles
posted by Swampwitch at 9/11/2006 10:22:00 AM
23 Comments:
I really don't expect any comments to this post...it was written without proper capitalization, punctuation, and I'm sure there are spelling errors...It is difficult and confusing to read...It was difficult to write...
It was written mainly for me to just express the confusion I still have about such a terrible day in the history of our nation.
Wow mom, that's the best blog entry yet! We love you Staten Island Family and all of yours who served and serve today!
I must know all about that state.
I understood it completely
You can delete this comment if you want, but I wanted to let you know that I saw your comment on the Blogging Chicks Metablog and I thought I would let you know that I have a link for a video on how to do links in blogger. The link for the video can be found by clicking the "resources" tab on top of the Blogging Chicks Metablog. I also have a link for how to add a graphic to a post.
I understood every word :)
Thank you so much for the encouraging words you posted to me about school. I feel in love teaching Pre K I had 4 year olds. I have thought many times about going to school to become a teacher. I will be printing your encouraging words out and hanging on my fridge to read everyday :)
Because I hope by this time next year to be enrolled in college once more...to get my teaching degree :)
THANK YOU!!! :)
Thank you for visiting my tribute and commenting.
I actually enjoyed(?) this post, you've written it almost as it was rushing through your head...I have no doubt that thousands of people had so many similar thoughts and feelings running through them on this day 5 years ago.
Your post has been written like you are rushing it out, breathless with anxiety. It's very fitting. Ihank you for the insight.
Here is my tribute to Michael Ragusa should anyone else care to read it.
I understood completely:)
This is exellent. Expressing that sort of emotion doesn't call for punctuation and grammar. You expressed it with your lack of it; I felt your confusion, panick and worry.
Good going, Swampwitch! I'm also very relieved to find that your friends were okay.
I think we all felt that way. - minds racing at the craziness of it all. I'm so glad your Staten Island family was safe.
I can't read another one today. I just can't.
But I will come back and read it.
Thank you for honoring Mr. Salomon with your words.
Thank you.
♥Pam
You expressed just how so many Americans feel about that terrible day. Today, my husband, a retired firemen went to ground zero to pay his respect to so many of his friends and brothers of the FDNY. We as a family were very lucky. I went for my usual evening walk. Stopped at the top of the hill over looking New York Harbor.
Two beautiful white beams shining high in the sky glowing on the cloud cover. What a tribute.
LAW: Thanks for reading and especially for taking the time to post the compliment. We love Bobbo!
Gramange: Thanks for the call this morning. It was good to hear your voice. I'm glad the beams of light were visible for your walk tonight.
Pamela, Ms.L, KamrynR, Pam:
Thank you for visiting today and posting. I try to visit you everyday that I can.
Michele: I published this so that others who may not know how to post a link can benefit from the information you sent. Although, I may be the only blogger who doesn't know how to do this.
Debs: Glad to know my words made an impact. Just think, this time next year you'll be on your way.
Lisa: Thank you for the comment and for giving us the link to Michael's tribute.
Gayle: Wow! I have more info in my e-mails from you than what's in the Dummy book...plus it's easier to understand. Can't wait to return home to use it.
Your writing describes exactly how I was feeling.
Thanks for the touching story..I agree..it is your best yet.
P.S. This is so completely minimal, and I can't believe I am writing this after this touching post, but I finally learned how to "link."
Perfect! It's represents the confusion and dread we all felt that day.
I have posted a tribute honoring Sgt. Michael Curtin, a NYPD officer who willingly walked into that dread and confusion five years ago on a rescue mission; his body was recovered from the rubble of Ground Zero months later.
So many lost lives, so many heroes.
Diane
amazing post! I am with Gayle there was no need for punctuation, capitalization etc.....it was pure emotion, gave me goosebumps and tears....thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing. We all remember. I'm collecting the memories. Drawn here because I saw that you spent hours reading tributes. Perhaps you'll help me find the places you were... Help me build the collection
The day and the memories are hard for all of us.
Swampwitch, that was perfectly and beautifully written. I understand completely what you are saying. Thank you for sharing it. I like your place, I'll have to come back for a visit.
Its a great post.
I found you by the way over at Gayles blog.
What many can't understand is the raw pain that is still here on the surface. You expressed that so well.
Oh, yes. I have nothing to add that everyone else hasn't already said. But it was just like that, wasn't it? Sitting around with our brains and hearts screaming and nothing making sense. What an achey time that was.
Thanks for sharing it.
I think it's written perfectly without all the grammar. It conveys best the emotion.
Well said, SwampWitch! I wouldn't change a word.
The way you wrote it conveyed as much expression as the words. It's how many of us were processing that day five years ago...
This remembrance was as poignant as any I've read...glad you penned your thoughts.
NO: Glad you agreed with LAW about the post. I tried writing with capitals, punctuation, etc. and my thoughts were too far ahead of my fingers. Congrats on being successful with the links. I hope to have time tomorrow to try again.
Praying For Your Prodigal: It was just that, sheer confusion. Thank you for your tribute to Sgt. Curtin.
Red Neck Girl: As I said earlier, I just couldn't write fast enough so I just wrote words.
Devil Blue Dress: I will be at your place soon to help you with the collection and how I Blog Traveled that day.
G: Thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you understood. It was even difficult for me to make sense of it when I tried to proof it.
Lilfeathers 2000: Glad you found me via Gayle. And yes, the pain is still raw.
Laura: Thank for reading. And yes, it is still achey. Isn't interesting how we all have our words to describe this event.
C: A pendulum of emotions, yes.
Robin: Thank you for reading. Poignant is certainly one way to descrive those thoughts.
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