Sep 2023
My British husband and I were visiting his folks in London on 9/11/01. It was afternoon and we were in St Pancras tube station when I caught the tail end of a news crawl moving across the wall. I said “ mmm…looks like there’s been a plane crash somewhere", and we went on about our shopping excursion.
After choosing a model car in a toy shop a little later, we went to pay and the young clerk I spoke to said “Did you hear about the planes that hit the skyscrapers and made them fall down?” That didn’t make any sense, and I wasn't sure I understood his East End accent so I just said, “No we didn’t - guess we should check the news” and we walked out. As we went out, I said, “I guess another little plane hit the Empire state Building, but it certainly wouldn’t fall down.”
However, on the tube on the way home, we overheard bits of conversation that frightened us, so we rushed in and turned on the TV, where they replayed every terrible scene over and over for the rest of the day.
We were glued to the Telly for the next 3 days for round-the-clock coverage.
When we finally ventured out and anyone heard my American accent, I was immediately hugged and told how sorry they were to see this happen. This continued for the following three weeks of our stay. Never anything but sympathy and kindness towards me and America. I’ll never forget it.
I wonder if we were so caring when Irish terrorists previously bombed Harrods. I somehow doubt it. The other thing I will never forget is the burning hatred that welled up in me for Sadam Hussein who was named at the time as being responsible. I had never before or since felt such virulent loathing for any one or anything. When those thoughts threaten to resurface today, I shush them away by recalling the overwhelming kindness of the ordinary English folk towards me. I will never forget that.
I saw Ground Zero shortly afterwards, and the hatred resurfaced, as it does in some measure on every September 11. On those times I again turn to my memories of British kindness.
ljm
After choosing a model car in a toy shop a little later, we went to pay and the young clerk I spoke to said “Did you hear about the planes that hit the skyscrapers and made them fall down?” That didn’t make any sense, and I wasn't sure I understood his East End accent so I just said, “No we didn’t - guess we should check the news” and we walked out. As we went out, I said, “I guess another little plane hit the Empire state Building, but it certainly wouldn’t fall down.”
However, on the tube on the way home, we overheard bits of conversation that frightened us, so we rushed in and turned on the TV, where they replayed every terrible scene over and over for the rest of the day.
We were glued to the Telly for the next 3 days for round-the-clock coverage.
When we finally ventured out and anyone heard my American accent, I was immediately hugged and told how sorry they were to see this happen. This continued for the following three weeks of our stay. Never anything but sympathy and kindness towards me and America. I’ll never forget it.
I wonder if we were so caring when Irish terrorists previously bombed Harrods. I somehow doubt it. The other thing I will never forget is the burning hatred that welled up in me for Sadam Hussein who was named at the time as being responsible. I had never before or since felt such virulent loathing for any one or anything. When those thoughts threaten to resurface today, I shush them away by recalling the overwhelming kindness of the ordinary English folk towards me. I will never forget that.
I saw Ground Zero shortly afterwards, and the hatred resurfaced, as it does in some measure on every September 11. On those times I again turn to my memories of British kindness.
ljm
Everyone has a 9/11 story to tell. This is mine and every word is true.
