I was in bed waking up to go to Spanish 101 and I knew immediately it was an attack from UBL and AQ, before the second plane hit.

I was driving through Rock Creek Park on my way to pick up sushi for a brokers' open.  An Eve Cassidy CD had just finished with her amazing rendition of "Over the Rainbow" that just filled my heart.  Then I switched over to NPR and it took a few minutes of listening to some confused broadcasters, and Carl Kasell at the top of the hour to get the full picture. 

Watching the tv in my office waiting for a new hire to show up.  And wondering why Bryant Gumbel did not recognize it a a terrorist attack right away.

Noah Seidenberg I was an Oracle DBA and software consultant then, too. It took another couple of years before I started my career in Real Estate.

We had just bought our first home - and had no clue on what's going on. At office, I was 'alienated' because of my color - not to blame anyone as even I was wondering what's going on.

I rushed to home and bought an indoor antenna to see what's going on. Perhaps our family in India had more information about this than us!

At the time, I was at home and went in late, because it was such a beautiful day here.  One of my associates told me the news and I was shocked.  We saw the rest on TV and they sent everyone home.

Phones weren't working most the day and I remember hearing fighter planes going over our building in case there were more attacks.

I remember being scared and staying inside...because if I went on my balcony, I could see the smoke cloud...I was 40 mins away from the City and yes, you could see it from there.

The TV was on for the news but I wasn't really listening at first. Thought it was a trailer for a movie or something. Until I stopped and watched and realized the horrible news was real. After that, couldn't take my eyes of the screen. The news kept getting worse and worse. Then called people in town whether they'd heard. Everyone had. Walked around Carmel-by-the-Sea later and watched tourists from all over the world huddling in groups; they could not leave because the airport was closed. A strange quiet hang over the town, people, if they were alone, walked around zombie-like, in their own thoughts. Mostly people seemed to want to be with others in small groups.

We were on vacation on the Outer Banks of NC with my folks.  My husband was at the fishing pier already, my mom and I contemplating going shopping that morning, but wanted to check the weather forecast, so we turned on the tv.  First, we thought it was a sightseeing plane - that may have been reported initially in all the confusion.  We watched TV for a while and saw the 2nd tower hit.  

A few minutes later, the door opens, my husband is back from the pier and on the phone...as an individual ready reservist for the Army, he knew our world had just changed personally and he was right. A few months later, we were leaving Atlanta and heading for DC, where he was stationed at Ft Belvoir.  I gave up my corporate marketing career - and ended up  in real estate. 

Yes, my first impression was that it was an accident.  We were driving home after picking up a car after repairs from the dealership.  By the time we got home we knew it was far more serious.

I was driving to our office sales meeting.  I always listen to talk radio; however that day my normal show was not on.  Peter Jennings was giving sketchy details and it was thought that a small plane had crashed into the building.  I just pulled into the parking lot when the 2nd plane hit.  Went in the office and everyone was standing aroun watching live TV.  The meeting was cancelled.  I went home and was glued to the TV the rest of the day.

Noah,

We were having breakfast in our favorite cafe in Yountville, CA.  The guy who came in announcing it was a joker, and at first did not take it seriously.  Another guy paled as his wife was in NY and he could not reach her... A

In the office, and it was fairly obvious that it was not an accident.

It was very early our time.  I was home watching the morning news.  Instantly had a sinking feeling of terrorism.

I was in a meeting at the office... and at first we all thought it was just an accident. Didn't take long to figure out that it was anything but!

Noah Seidenberg I was attending a Tuesday morning weekly office meeting. Someone had the TV on in the conference room and we knew it was real and not an accident.

I was on a treadmill and I couldn't imagine that it was a terrorist attack. 

I was at home about to go to work out at the YMCA.  I had no idea that it was an attack at first as it just came on the Today show as a plane crashing into the tower.

I had a television on and in the lobby of my office and was watching GMA and they broke in with the first plane and called it an "accident". I switched to a different channel and I just had a gut feeling so I called the school where my daughter attended (I was friends with the office staff) and had them go tell Abigail's teacher to turn on the tv in her gifted class.  Her teacher thanked me for that later.

My first impression was it was a small plane that was offtrack and an accident. Then within minutes I realized that would not likely happen.

I thought it was an accident, until the 2nd tower was hit.

Noah - My wife and I were getting ready for work. We missed the first plane, but turned on the news shortly thereafter. We also thought it was an accident at first.

Never thought it was an accident

I was getting ready for a morning workout and turned on the news. The plane had just hit the second tower and my phone rang, a good friend who was conferenced with her daughter who was on a NYC rooftop just a few blocks away. The daughter called her mom because she couldn't get any information about what was happening.

I was bailing hay and did not hear about it until I saw the 10 pm news.

It was the day after my 18th anniversary.  I was home with my husband, glued to the news.

I was in Freshman Year of high school in class. Someone ran down the hallway saying the Pentagon was bombed. 

I thought for sure it was an accident. Until the second plane.