When I think of the last five years in relation to the day, it doesn’t seem like five years. It seems like yesterday.
When I think of it in terms of the other things that’ve happened in my life, it feels considerably longer.
I still remember the moment I realized things were really serious, as in, “You ain’t day-dreaming no more boyo”, and that was when, standing in the University Union at Towson, Catch-22 in my hand, starring at one of the many televisions on carts arranged around the lounge area on the second floor, CNN was on, and a woman screamed “Jesus fucking Christ!” as a plane hit the second tower.
The CNN censors failing to blot out “fucking”, particularly in light of what was going on: wow. (I’m surprised the FCC didn’t fine the shit out of them).
I’m pretty sure that wasn’t live. I’m sure a few moments later when the towers collapsed, that was live. It’s odd how some of the details will never firmly afix to my head. I remember that the radio stations were broadcasting feeds from the tv news networks.
A lot of things were uncensored when it first happened. I remember watching people jump out of the towers on the news for hours after, until the stations realized that it might not be a good idea.
I remember people smiling and posing for pics with the burning towers in the background. That’s a detail permanently ingrained in my head.
Comment by S* — September 11, 2006 @ 10:50 am
Re: Radio… I remember all the stations that normally play music, were instead playing news. I also remember even Tom Leykis talking about the attacks, instead of his normal topic, teaching guys how to score with chicks.
Comment by Jim McKee — September 11, 2006 @ 2:38 pm
I am grateful that I wasn’t able to watch TV duruing those first few days, we had to work so long, so I was spared those images of people jumping.
Comment by Mr. Fabulous — September 11, 2006 @ 5:01 pm