Sammy very graciously offered to let ME “borrow” his blog space this morning so I can do what many of us will be doing this weekend which is recalling where we were on 9/11.
Sammy knows where he was – he was at PawsAWhile Pet Hotel because his Dad and I were on an anniversary trip to Paris. We arrived in Paris on 9/8 for our second trip to France – the first being when we were there on our honeymoon in 1990. We had lots of great things planned and actually DID many of them like visit Versailles, wander the art stalls in Montmartre….but our trip changed on 9/11 when we saw on television what was happening back home. I’ll never forget turning on the TV in our room after being out shopping for souvenirs and thinking we were watching a science fiction movie…..but it was all too real…..and from that moment, what was to be a wonderful vacation became a nightmare. We were so far away from our family and friends at a moment in time when everyone wanted to BE with family.
There were other Americans in the hotel we were staying in and we all were at a loss as to what to do – something like shellshock I think….we sat in the lobby and talked about family back home…..several people were from NYC and were trying desperately to call family but were unable to get through. Those of us in the hotel became “family” at that instant – we just needed a piece of “home” and being with other Americans helped so much. The French people were wonderful though – very supportive, very giving, very kind.
We had to stay in Paris three days beyond when our tour ended because there were no planes flying…..every day we’d go to the airport where there was utter chaos – and wait for word. We had to be there, with suitcases, just waiting for the moment it would be announced that flights were going back to the States or we’d miss our chance. It was a madhouse. Finally on the third day of traveling to the airport and waiting all day only to be told no flights – the FIRST plane back to Dulles Airport in Virginia was going to leave! We were so excited….we stood in line with hundreds of other people who just wanted to get on ANY plane to go to the USA…..finally we boarded. I cried as did many other people. But that was nothing compared to what it was like when the plane landed at Dulles. Everyone cheered, everyone cried – we were HOME. There was nobody in the airport except for security people – it was, after all, the first airplane allowed back into the US. No chances were being taken…..all the security people hugged us and said “welcome home”……I’ll never forget it.
Sammy had been at the kennel three extra days and was mighty happy to see us when we picked him up the next morning – but no less happy than we were to hug him!
There’s NO place like home…..and every year on 9/11 we remember “that” 9/11 and the sadness and horror of seeing all the death and destruction in NYC, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania.
To all of you – take a moment to remember where YOU were when you heard…….we will never forget.
Thanks Sam for letting me share our story…..the blog will be back in your capable paws tomorrow morning!!!!!
Pam, Mom of Sam
Oh, Pam I cannot imagine being out of the country at that time! You’re so right that it was a time everyone wanted to be close to their family.
Your post brought a tear to my eye, and I’m sure that will happen many times over the next few days.
So glad you made it home safely….and back to your sweet Sammy!
Dianna
(Sundae’s mom)
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Hi Dianna….I know we all have our own memories and recollections from that awful day. Our Paris vacation turned into our worst nightmare! It was quite an experience but one I guess I simply will never forget.
I hope you, Motor Man and Sundae have a good weekend! Happy Friday….
Pam
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Wonderful blog today, Pam. Thinking back to that horrible day also brings to my mind how America “came together.” There were no more bickering and in-fighting in the halls of congress and the office of the president. And also, America was behind them one hundred percent, Of course it didn’t take long before the politicians and America as a whole it seemed started taking sides and trying to blame us for the horror. It continues today.
That must have been a awful thing, Pam, to have to be stuck in Paris (even glamorous Paris) while all that was going on here in America.
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Hi Jerry……..indeed it was horrible NOT to be home at that time and I remember I was a MESS until I was finally able to make a call back to the States to talk to my sister Carol – just wanted to hear a voice from home! She called Sam’s kennel to explain why they’d need to keep him extra days – he seemed mighty glad to see us when we finally did get there to pick him up. LOL
Pam
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we must never forget
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Hi Caren…..I totally agree…..I know I couldn’t forget even if I TRIED to.
Pam
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….And I was sitting in front of the tv weeping. I had no idea where my sister was or how to find out if she was ok. I had no idea when she would be home or even if she would get home. I was only glad that she and David were together. That phone call days later, “We are home!!” was my first happy day following 9/11.
I love you, Pammie.
Your sister, Carol Dean
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Hi Dear Sister! Thanks for reading the blog today…..I was thinking about you and Mike and Sam and hoping you were all OK – I really missed being HOME so much which I don’t normally have a problem with on a regular trip – but this was beyond anything anyone could possibly have imagined. I was never so happy to get home in my entire life. I love you too!!!
Hugs, Your Sister Pam
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I was at work. I had to drive to the hardware store for a machine part when I turned the radio on and heard a debate on weather it was an accident or terrorism. I thought a small plane hit the building, like a Piper Cub or something. By the time I got back to work, everyone was huddled around a tiny black and white tv that was in the office and never used. By then there was no doubt.
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Yes that’s kind of what we thought when we first saw coverage on TV – that a small plane had accidentally hit one of the towers……then the second plane hit and there was no doubt what was going on – we were just happy to find an English speaking station so we could really understand – although that kind of thing is very difficult to TRULY understand.
Pam
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Pam; I know that must have been nerve wracking; and scary; I guess probably because you WERE out of the country; the most fearful thing would have been ..WILL… we get home, since you…. HAD….. to fly…..
♥♥♥
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We really did think about that but any apprehension was overwhelmed at the “need” to be back in the USA……our country……our home……our family…….our dear little Sammy. Everyone who was at the airport felt like that – they just wanted to be on a plane ANYWHERE that would get them closer to home. We were on the first plane allowed back into Dulles Airport – since we live near DC and the Pentagon had been one of the sites that was hit, the security was unbelievable. But when we finally landed the whole plane cheered and sang “God Bless America”…..when we walked off the plane, the security people hugged every single one of us and said “WELCOME HOME”……..it was amazing.
Love, Pam
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Being out of the country when this happened would have been scary and wanting to be home as soon as possible would make time drag.
What a crappy day that was…the epitome of crap!
Jean
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IT sure was……….and one of those events that you just can never forget one single detail of………
Love, Sammy
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OH man, I can’t begin to imagine what you went through but I can imagine and appreciate your relief at being home.
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Oh it was quite an experience – we just wanted to be HERE so badly during that awful time. We had to wait so long to be able to come back home – we just wanted to be in the place we love best AND to get Sammy home from the kennel after his extra long stay.
Hugs, Sammy
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I just reread this story and still find it emotional.
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It was an amazing time in their lives….thanks for reading the story!
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Wow, I missed this the first time you shared it; but I did know about you and David being in Paris on 9/11. I bet it was really scary getting on that airplane to come home. It is hard to believe 20 years have passed. Love and hugs as you remember, Janet
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It’s funny but we never even thought about the danger of being the first plane back here – we just thought about home. I won’t ever forget landing and having the security guards welcome us home and hug us – each and every one.
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