EDITORS NOTEBOOK: MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS AND REMEMBRANCES
By Tim Caldwell
Note: I will be adding to this page on the bottom as events continue to unfold.
Where was I when I heard the news? I have to actually
back up to Monday. I took Monday off from work and decided to get off Cape
overnight. I spent the night in North Conway NH expecting to due some
sightseeing before coming back to the Cape late Tuesday. I awoke about 9:15 AM
Tuesday morning and like most mornings one of the first things I did was reach
for my pager that gets news alerts about major fires and public safety events.
It read: Manhattan 3rd alm box 8087 World Trade Center for an airbus
into tower one. Turning on the TV I could not believe my eyes. The second plane
had already crashed into tower 2. Within a matter of minutes the pentagon
attack was sharing the screen. Then it happened: the first world trade center
tower collapsed on top of dozens of
rescuers. That was it-I knew I needed to get home to loved ones as soon as
possible. I threw everything into the car, checked out and hit the road. But, I
knew going through Boston to get to the Cape would be impossible. Tuning into
the car radio practically every station was carrying Peter Jennings. Reports
were out the jets had taken off from Logan. People were fleeing the Prudential
and Hancock towers fearing they might be hit next. That’s when I knew I had to
take the outer loop-I495. This was not without adventure either. As I got back
into Massachusetts a call crackled over the police scanner in my vehicle tuned
to the Mass State Police. “Possible bomb in a bank off I495 in Andover. Sure
enough as I passed by the area several MSP cruisers had the off ramps closed
down. About 4 hours later I arrived back in Provincetown. I drove straight to
my Mother’s and have her a hug. After a while I went home and turned on the TV
and the scanners. Every channel was interrupting for coverage. Even cable
channels like MTV and VH-1 were carrying CNN as were all Turner channels. HGTV
simply said: due to todays events HGTV is suspending programming. I went back
to my mothers to have dinner and watch the President speak.
Wednesday
September 12th, 2001
I awoke after little sleep and turned on the TV expecting it to be a dream. But it was real and now the dragnet was underway. After surveying the town for local affects (see coverage on our front page) I returned home to watch heavily armed personnel going into the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay. Later in the afternoon I hit the Internet which had been heavily jammed and almost unusable. I managed to complete a link to a live scanner carrying the FDNY. (Link is on our front page). Within minutes frantic calls were going out about the imminent collapse of 1 Liberty Plaza. A short time later dispatch reported getting a cell call from someone trapped in the rubble. This is when the attack really began hitting home. Images flashed on the TV showing burned out shells of what had been fire engines and ambulances. I admit to being relieved when my Dad showed up and said lets get some dinner. I got away from the radios for a while but the coverage was, I guess, morbidly spellbinding.
Thursday September
13th, 2001
Two days after the attack and it really starts to
sink in. Continuous TV coverage begins playing an answering machine tape of a
woman calling her husband from one of the top floors of the trade center just
after the plane hit. Transcripts of people calling from the planes were
certainly emotional for me but actually hearing someone crying, telling her
husband “I love you” really got to me. Later in the afternoon and evening as I opened
the link to FDNY again the radio was filled with announcements. A steady stream
of “5-5-5-5” notifications of line of duty deaths of members and “652” messages
of funeral arrangements. I went out to dinner again with dinner with my Father
and some friends. As I walked to the restaurant some two and ½ days after the
attack, the side streets are still filled with the chorus of TV sets as people
sit transfixed in their living rooms by what they are seeing. On Commercial
Street almost without exception everyone I pass is talking about it. Tonight
America is truly a country united…
Friday
September 14th, 2001
It is another emotional day, proclaimed a National
Day of Prayer and Remembrance. Noontime: I attend Provincetown’s memorial
service with some 750 people. A truly moving event with so many people of
different faiths coming together, holding hands, singing American songs and
listening to all the local clergy. 2:00 I got home to write this and heard a
chopper moving in. I ran outside thinking it might be military but it was just
the Coast Guard although who knows they may be patrolling the skies too. This
evening is equally emotional. People arriving to the vigils are treated to a
sign from the heavens. A full rainbow arcing across the entire sky. The service
is equally emotional with more singing. Some levity as traditional songs give
way to New York New York and Over the Rainbow. Heart wrenching moments as I
watch children amongst others paying homage to those fallen. I get home a
little after 8 only to get a frantic call from my landlady exclaiming there’s a
jet going overhead! It seems life is at least trying to get back to normal as
air service begins again. But I expect everyone will be looking up to the sky
everytime a jet flies over for some time to come...
Saturday
September 15th, 2001
I know there has been a strong bias to Provincetown
in my reporting of these events. Frankly, that’s because I haven’t been able,
or willing to go out of town. I believe the events reported represent what is
happening all across the Cape now more than ever with the whole country uniting
as one…
“C’est Le Guerre!” (This is war!) I feel like I’m watching some history channel program about World War II.
The president has declared: “We are at war”. There are reports the treasury
department may start printing war bonds for the first time since World War II.
Politicians tell us to expect a long drawn out affair prompting some memories
of Vietnam. Scarier than any of this are media consultants warning of the
possible escalation of the conflict by the terrorists to the level of chemical,
biological or nuclear weapons! Its obvious someone was asleep at the security
switch Tuesday. I only hope everyone will be paying full attention from now on…
Monday September 17th, 2001 Editorial: Stop the hate!
A disturbing rash of hate crimes are
being reported against people of Arab origin or Muslim faith. At least one man
is dead in Arizona and numerous acts of property vandalism as close as
Plymouth, MA are reported. This is the wrong way to try to seek vengeance. It
is not what America stands for. The attacks were launched by a small group of
radicals. The Arab and Islamic people who have immigrated to this country are
honest hard working citizens equally outraged by the events of the past week.
Punishing them as we did the Japanese after Pearl Harbor in effect makes us no
better than the terrorists. America is supposed to be a land of diversity and
equal opportunity. Lets concentrate on the people actually involved in the
terror and stop the cycle of hate once and for all. Comments?
Friday September 21st, 2001
10 days after the worst attack in
American history. The emotional events of the week are unforgettable. From Jay
Leno returning with a moving opening segment on the first tonight show that had
him on the verge of tears to the Presidents address carried live-stopping the
NY Rangers hockey game to the telethon that will air on almost every TV and
radio channel tonight. America is a country united.
Editorial: The need to get back to business as normal.
Although there will probably never be such a thing as business as
normal, Americans must make their best efforts to do just that. The economy is
in a tailspin. Tourism is suffering a major slowdown all over. While mourning
and remembering is important we American’s must try to get back to business as
normal as possible as quick as possible. If we allow ourselves to be scared out
of doing what we have always done then the terrorists have achieved their goal.
Certainly we should be aware of our surroundings and stay informed of the
latest news but we should not stop spending money or vacationing. Lets show
these “cowards” we will not be deterred in living our everyday lives.
Additionally I say something must be built in the place of the
Trade Towers. While a memorial is of course a must, Some sort of building or
buildings, maybe not 110 stories, but something daunting must be put up to fill
the void.