I was lying in bed, half asleep, at apx 8 AM Central US time (= 9 AM Eastern) - and my clock radio / alarm flipped on - to the "oldies" station I had
it set on.
I was lying in bed, half awake, the DJs were not laughing and joking as usual. My first thought was, being as it was an oldies station - another
Beatle must have died.
But then - as I lay there, half listening, it seemed like something was
really horribly WRONG.
So I got up, put the TV on - and it was on EVERY channel - even the PBS and 'indie' ones - these had like CNN hooked in, or some other large news
outlet. That alone was rather surreal.
I began watching TV - probably shortly after the first plane hit. The particulars are starting to fade, but I remember it was right at the beginning
and I watched it all day, I was fascinated.
I was a full time student at the time - most public and private colleges and uni's were shut down in Chicago here - *except* the one I attended. So I
had to go to school later that day. (Downtown here, Central Biz Area - was evacuated almost immediately - there were fears that we "might be next".
The entire city began evacuation immediately. I believe LA and other large US cities did likewise.)
I had been though school once already (engineering), and was studying physics - so I was very interested in all the technical aspects of it. I too
thought - *while watching the buildings fall* - this is explosives. This is controlled demolition. I remember thinking that - as it happened.
(I don't mean to stir any debate either, this is just what I was thinking, at the time.)
Yes I did finish that chunk of school also, now have MS in Physics. I do not remember 911 ever being discussed much at school. However, I am sure it
would've been discussed more in Civil Engineering and Architecture departments.
A few days later, I was on the net looking for technical analysis, the first one I found was from the U of Sydney's Civil Engineering department.
Less than a week after 911.
Myself, in school, we went back to our boring grindstones. I remember my neighbors at the time, being a little nicer and friendlier after 911. For
maybe 2 days. Then they went right back to growling at you.
And - hell - I think it was *the afternoon of* 911 - by 9/12 AM for sure - there were already people walking the streets/standing in traffic
intersections - selling US flags and decals. They didn't waste any time. Oy.
The thing about 911 that I remember most is the somber and somewhat pannicked voices of the DJs on the radio, when I first woke up. This is what
sticks most in my mind.
edit on 18-1-2011 by Whiffer Nippets because: typo