Where were you when the towers fell?

Twin Towers - internet image 

September 11^th 2001 is one of the dates that people will clearly remember where they were, and what they were doing when the world as we knew it changed forever; the day the twin towers in New York City were destroyed.

Lawrie and I were on a four-day get-away from our jobs. We had driven from our home in the Okanagan Valley of BC, Canada, to Yellowstone National Park located where the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming meet. It was a quick laughter-filled trip to visit the imaginary Yogi Bear in his home at Jellystone Park.

The day before - enjoying Jellystone Park

Early in the morning of September 11^th we checked out of our hotel, and stopped for coffee at a cute little café in Helena Montana, that offered baked goodies and lattes. As we waited for our coffee to be crafted the news suddenly switched to a live report from New York City; a plane had stuck one of the towers. As we stood with our mouths hanging open, we watched a second plane hit the other tower.

A chill of fear rolled up my spine. This was incomprehensible.

“We have to get back across the border. Now!” Lawrie said.

Helena - for coffees

“Yep. Let’s go.” I agreed. We had no idea what was going on, but we were not in our own country and all we could think of was getting safely home before the border was closed. We paid for our coffees and sprinted back to our Pontiac Firebird.

We had a Sirius satellite radio in the car and set it to the public broadcast system, listening intently for more information.

We drove slightly over the speed limit, heading to the border between Orville Washington and Osoyoos BC, Canada. It was the easiest crossing for us as we were familiar with the I-90 route passing through Missoula Montana and Spokane Washington. We didn’t have smartphones or Google Maps in 2001, but we knew it was about a thirteen to fourteen-hour drive to our house.

A short time later we had to pull the car over and listen in disbelief as the broadcaster explained that the towers had collapsed, and that another plane had crashed before hitting the White House. We had no words, we just listened in stunned silence. Lawrie sadly shook his head and re-started the car. He swung onto the road and continued driving towards home.

Lawrie at Jellystone Park on Sept 10th 2001

Fortunately for us, we always shared the driving and could just keep moving north-west only stopping for gas for the car, more coffee, a little food and bathroom breaks for us. Every stop was stressful; people cried and hugged each other, or silently stared at the televisions reporting yet more tragedies and destruction.

We arrived around midnight at the Orville – Osoyoos crossing. We were the only vehicle at the normally busy facility. We asked the customs agents if the border was going to be closed. They said they weren’t sure, but at the moment we were good to cross over.

“Drive safely!” I remember the guy saying as we drove away. That was the first time ever we had ever heard a comment like that from a customs agent. His world had been badly rattled, too.

Yellowstone Park - the bison were oblivious

The winding dark road between Osoyoos and Penticton was more difficult than the previous thirteen hours on the main highway. The dark country road passed by vineyards and orchards with hungry deer haphazardly crossing in front of our vehicle. We had a few near misses, but managed to arrive at our house without an accident.

What the hell had happened to our world?

I remember the eerie silence – worldwide the planes had been grounded. People were off-loaded at odd locations around the world. In Gander Newfoundland, a tiny community of about ten thousand residents on the farthest edge of Canada, helped 6700 passengers from 38 planes. For three days our world was as silent as my childhood memories, before commercial aircraft flights became common and affordable.

I remember the fear, the uncertainty, and the bewilderment. My neighbour Sue was on her own for a few days but she wasn’t answering her phone, so, I paid her an unscheduled visit.

“Sue, Sue. Are you okay?” I yelled as I knocked loudly, then opened her front door.

Both she and her hubby Lloyd were very surprised. I am pretty sure she wished she had never given us a spare key to their house, if you get my drift. My impromptu visit provided a little neighbourly humour in a very stressful time.

Our world was changed forever by this tragedy.

Strength and peace to those who lost their loved ones on this day in 2001.

Sunrise September 11th 2019 Isla Mujeres

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