• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Not Your Average Gal

Not Your Average Gal

Copywriter. Content Creator. Constant Sassypants.

  • About
  • Blog
    • Copywriting
    • Mental Health
    • Musings
    • Not Your Average Gals
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Hong Kong
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Australia-Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • Europe
      • England
      • Portugal
      • Scotland
      • Spain
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Cuba
      • Mexico
    • Travel Prep
    • Travel Hacking
  • Work with Me
  • Contact

Archives for September 2012

Just Remember…

September 24, 2012 By Caroline Peterson

…when in self-doubt:

Happy Monday!

Filed Under: Mental Health, Musings, Soapbox

11 years later on the 11th

September 11, 2012 By Caroline Peterson

My story isn’t unlike most others.

A junior at MSU, I was laying in bed bleary eyed, listening to the Today show not wanting to get up for my Business Communication class when the first plane hit.  Cameras immediately took to the Trade Towers and Matt Lauer began describing the situation as best he could with little information about what just happened.  At that point, it was an “explosion”.

Then the second plane hit.  I did what any other normal, sane person would do (read: anyone obsessed with news and current events) – I popped a tape into my VCR and hit record.  Yeah. A VCR.  Remember those things?

Looking back, I have no idea what really compelled me to do it other than I wanted to see what was going on by watching the tape when I got back from class.  Because I thought I was going to class that day.

As I got ready I made a phone call to my dad, who lived in Chicago at the time,  to make sure he wasn’t at work downtown in a tall building.  (Remember: no one knew what was going on then…)  He picked up the phone.

“Hey Dad, just calling to say hello and make sure you’re not working downtown today.”

“Nope.  Not in Chicago today.  I’m in Manhattan for the day on business. Do you know what’s going on?”

——

The line went dead.

He was calm and cool.  He didn’t know what was going on.  Just that something was going on.

The next moments were like a scene out of a movie.

I frantically called again and again. Everyone was trying to call loved ones.  Networks were bogged down.  20 minutes or so went by.  Could have been longer.

I finally got through.  I quickly and I’m sure eloquently, spit everything out as fast as I could because I didn’t want the line to cut out again before I told him:

“Planes hit the Trade Center.  2 of them.  There’s something going on at the Pentagon too.  They think it may have been another plane. They’re saying something else about another plane not responding.”

“We’re under attack.  I’m going to get to the airport to get home.”

“Dad.  DAD!  Do NOT go to the airport.  They’ve shut everything down.  They think they used planes!  Don’t go to the airport.”

“Dad?”

——-

The line went dead again.

I tried calling him again and again but it was hopeless.  It took 3 hours before I got ahold of him.  He told me he was okay.  He told me how he still hoped to get a flight out tomorrow.  He explained he was going to be sharing a hotel room with 4 other people he met since every hotel in a 50 mile radius was now booked by day business travelers hoping beyond hope to get home soon.  He told me the new New York City skyline was heartbreaking.

It took him another 5 days to get out of NYC.  He eventually rented a car and drove back to Chicago.  But he got home.  Thankfully. So thankful.

I’m sure in hindsight he wouldn’t have headed to the airport.  I’m sure in hindsight my dad wished he would have just rented a car, right off the bat.  I’m sure in hindsight he wouldn’t have asked me what was going on.  I’m sure in hindsight he probably wouldn’t have told me he thought we were under attack.

But that’s the thing about these moments we all remember.  The moments that change our lives.  They are raw, unfiltered.

Do you remember that?  Do you remember the panic we all felt?  Do you remember how those moments became a cohesive, unifying declaration that we all are Americans and we all are in this together?  Do you remember that?

I miss that.

In an election season filled with unending finger pointing and divisive issues that spew hate filled diatribes, it’s hard to remember that unity existed.  It’s hard to remember that beyond partisan differences, we can communicate effectively.  Respectfully.

Try to remember that this election.  We’re more than capable of unity in a sea of differences.  Let’s hope that on September 12th and beyond, the politicians remember it, too.

 

 —–

On a sidenote:  I just talked to my dad who again, is traveling for work today (he tends to do that a lot) and we reminisced about this time 11 years ago.  I was in full on panic mode trying to call him.  He was using his negotiating skills trying to get a hotel room.   And 11 years later, I’m blogging about it.  Times sure have changed.

Where were you on September 11th?

Filed Under: Musings, Soapbox Tagged With: blogging, NBC, NYC, the today show

Primary Sidebar

Currently In:

05/19: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
04/2019: Marco Island, FL
03/2019: Baltimore, MD
02/2019: Tokyo, Japan
02/2019: Osaka, Japan
02/2019: Kyoto, Japan
01/2019: Seattle, WA
01/2019: Portland, OR
11/2018: Fort Lauderdale, FL
06/2018: Detroit, MI
04/2018: Las Vegas, NV
03/2018: Marco Island, FL
03/2018: Hanoi, Vietnam
03/2018: Siem Reap, Cambodia
02/2018: Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Top Posts

  • My First All-Inclusive Resort: The Hyatt Zilara Cancun Review
    My First All-Inclusive Resort: The Hyatt Zilara Cancun Review
  • Homepage
    Homepage
  • How I Found 3 Dresses That Fit My Chest: Hoi An, Vietnam Tailoring
    How I Found 3 Dresses That Fit My Chest: Hoi An, Vietnam Tailoring

Archives

  • November 2022
  • August 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • April 2014
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • February 2012

Previous Blog Entries

Old Website

Instagram

[instagram-feed]

Tag. You’re it!

beach blog blogging career cheap copywriter copywriting Core3Solutions costume crafts Delta DIY doctor engaged Facebook Florida Friday Funny Ft. Lauderdale grandma Halloween inspiration inspirational job McClure's medical school med school mental health Michigan NBC networking on a budget social media social networking Starbucks Thanksgiving The Price is Right therapy the today show tweet tweeting twitter website update wedding wedding planning writing

Archives

Footer

Not Your Average Newsletters


Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Search

  • Facebook
  • Instagram