I've actually been thinking long and hard about this particular post. Possibly longer and harder than any post I've made to date. Today is the tenth anniversary of 9/11. I have been torn between posting a tribute to the Twin Towers and what it meant to me and my loved ones the day they went down and not posting anything at all. I was concerned my post might come across as melodramatic and insincere or worse still, trite. But, the fact of the matter is that even though I was several thousand miles away here in Sydney, Australia on that day ten years ago, that set of events in The United States affected me profoundly as it did the people I know and care about.
The reason I posted this shadowy shot of The Sydney Harbour Bridge today is because when the Twin Towers went down nothing was safe. Immediately everything was a target including our beloved Sydney Opera House and our iconic bridge. Extra security and restrictions were placed on all major landmarks in this country. Even though the attacks happened in The United States, we were at risk immediately here in Sydney too. It was very frightening and deeply worrying. Anything was possible it seemed. Ten years on and the terror has lessened somewhat despite various terrible incidents such as the Bali bombings and the attacks in London but I will never, ever forget that day when my Dad rang me at 6:00am that Tuesday morning and told me America was under attack.
So, this post is for all of us, but in particular I would like to dedicate it to those that lost their lives that day on 11th September 2001. This post is also for the loved ones of those who died.
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Hey Harriet hosts Shadow Shot Sunday which you are more than welcome to participate in. All you have to do is read the instructions here.
thank you Sam.
Posted by: Ms. Becky | September 11, 2011 at 12:42 AM
we certainly will never forget this event. the emotion that it stirred in our hearts and minds. blessings~robin.
Posted by: robin | September 11, 2011 at 12:52 AM
Certainly 9/11 is a day none of us will ever forget and it is not only time to remember all those who lost their lives that day, but their families as well. And maybe it is also a day to focus on the beauty of our world with hope we never have another nightmare. Lovely post and shadows for the day and a lovely tribute as well!
Sylvia
Posted by: Sylvia Kirkwood | September 11, 2011 at 01:16 AM
I like your post Sam. It is hard to formulate words on such an event and I know what you mean about how that feels. It is important to remember those who died and all those who have died since as a result of it. As far as how I feel personally,I was saying to Andy today that from that day on there has been this sense of fear underlying everything. It is not necessarily at the front of my mind always but it is always there. I was listening to a phone in programme on radio 4 today and a man commented on how our freedom has been slowy eroding since that day in terms of increased security which of course comes from increased fear. But at the same time you see people in New York with the current increased threat not allowing it to change how they live their lives and I think that is important to see and to use as an example.
Posted by: Sarah | September 11, 2011 at 02:01 AM
A moving, thoughtful post. The world changed for all of us that day.
Posted by: Anne Donald | September 11, 2011 at 03:02 AM
Thank you everyone for your thoughtful comments.
Posted by: Sam | September 11, 2011 at 08:08 AM
I enjoyed seeing your shadow shot. This is new post for me.
Posted by: LaVoice | September 11, 2011 at 08:54 AM
I love your thoughtful post Sam! I also wanted to write something about 9/11 but couldn't put into words what I was feeling. I remember the event clearly like it happened only yesterday. I was working a night-shift in a nursing home when it happened and my co-worker & I (there were only the 2 of us on shift) were glued to the television watching the live coverage and couldn't believe what we were seeing. Some of the residents were sitting with us. One of those residents was a lady called Vera who was once a brilliant piano player and music teacher. Vera had dementia and could no longer remember how to play the piano. Vera would bash at the keys in frustration day after day on the piano in the corner of the living room. While we were all glued to the TV, Vera walked over to the piano and started playing the saddest song you've ever heard. Perfectly. The event triggered something so deep inside Vera that a part of her memory that was lost had returned briefly. We turned the volume down on the TV and continued watching the news coverage while listening to Vera's sad song and together we all cried. Cried for the lives lost, for the friends and families of the lives lost and we cried for ourselves because we were scared and nothing felt safe anymore. It felt like the beginning of the end of the world. So yes, while we live far away from where the event took place it certainly did affect everybody around the world.
Sorry! That sure was a long-winded comment! I hope you're enjoying your weekend Sam! xo
Posted by: Tracy | September 11, 2011 at 09:30 AM
Dear Tracy, thank you so much for your comment here - that is a deeply moving personal story of your memories of the events that day.
Posted by: Sam | September 11, 2011 at 10:31 AM
As you show, the Sydney harbour Bridge is a visual symbol of your lovely city, a symbol of the might of a people who built it together with pride. To not see it tower overhead would be a profound loss.
As with the the World Trade Center, losing some or all of such an icon does hurt, it represents a void. But before the resolve to begin anew is made, we all had to face our loss - not just in property and life, but of our confidence in being able to freely move ahead.
Not to mention the boiling anger after the shock and grief. We are all relieved that no one was steeped in such anger for long so that we could agree as a nation to come together, even if for only a little while to show ourselves (perhaps the world) that we are one as a free people that will not stand to lose that freedom...
The events of that 11 September were terrible in every way. The Harbour Bridge is a wonderful symbol that by its standing proudly, a free people stand proud alongside. Thank you for your thoughts, thank you for your dedication the loss we had and continue to feel...
Posted by: Ralph | September 11, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Very true Ralph - thank you for your insightful words here.
Posted by: Sam | September 11, 2011 at 11:43 AM
A very caring post with thoughtful responses. Tracy's story is profound beyond words.
Posted by: Francisca | September 11, 2011 at 05:44 PM