Story time kids.
I'm OLD AF so GET OFF MY LAWN is now my engagement message!
I was 20, working as a certified nursing assistant in a nursing home, newly married, raising a toddler and life was good. That morning I had been assigned the minimal assist wing and I was picking up breakfast trays and helping those who are obviously now my current age get dressed/groomed/etc when the one woman's call light came on and she RARELY put her light on for anything. I walked into her room and there were tears in her eyes, she just kept saying a plane hit a tower and just about that time we watched on live tv the second plane hit. Things in the nursing home came to a halt as people became more and more aware. SO many tears shed as we watched it all unfold. Some of the nurses were already calling their families to prep for them to head there to help. Our employer offered to cover all travel expenses of those who went, though no one was really sure who to contact or where to go. In the days following some nurses were able to get contact information and set up a time to help.
Families, friends and even strangers prayed in every religion they could. Many of my friends enlisted. There was a sense of unity. American flags everywhere. More tears as programs showed clips and videos as they became available. The Pledge of Allegiance was said before every event in the dusty small town I came from. It was really surreal in the moment and many were worried that more was coming or that it was the end. But I do not recall anyone running out to the store and hoarding anything. Also, Myspace was barely a thing so there wasn't the easily accessible market we have now via the internet.
Love and Light to those who need it as always