Where were you on 9/11?

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I was just leaving work to go to my morning class. My husband emailed and told me what was happening and I was like I gotta go to my class. When I got to class they told us what was happening and cancelled everything. They told us we were safe because we're in the middle of nowhere. I was like whaaat?

I went back to work and we watched it on the old TV of the 90 year old doctor at our practice. People would walk around and work, stop by at in the doorway and watch for a few minutes, shake their heads, go back to work for a few more minutes. I think most of the patients showed up like normal.

I was thinking all day that it was like the Challenger disaster, but apparently that frame of reference doesn't exist for many people. I've only heard a few other Gen Xers talk about Challenger at all.

I was in University. I was in the computer lab surfing the internet and then went to class. Upon arrival, I will never forget the instructor saying "I am sure you have all heard the news. Let's pray that everything works out." I just assumed a professor was critical condition after an accident and didn't think too much of it. After class I went to investigate and did not see anything immediate on the internet, just a small story about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. Just as I was leaving for the day, there was a large TV set up to CNN and I soon found out both towers had collapsed.

It was surreal because it was an absolutely beautiful day where I lived, the textbook definition of a 'perfect' day: warm, sunny, slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky.

I was sleeping, and I thought I was dreaming when news coverage of 9/11 was broadcast. Relatives of my wife had put on the TV in the living room.

I was home in Queens, New York.

I saw that image too when I was watching coverage. Like many, I was trying not to panic and in my case, not panic because my mom would have told me off for "making a fool" of myself.

I recall being numb at the time.