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I happened to be at home on 9/11 last year ...

My parents, Harold and Edna, were working in the Kruger National Park, South Africa ... a wild life sanctuary the same size as the State of Israel.

I just happened to turn on the TV and tune through to CNN ... see what’s going on in the world ... to my horror and shock, i saw the incomprehensible image of one of the WTC towers amass with smoke and flames. I called my parents to tell them ... knowing full well that there was very little chance of them watching TV ... one tends to switch off all these worldly devices when in the ‘bush’.

Here’s my Dads story ...

I would like to share a most unique experience with you. We live in interesting times. We watch the creation and see the passing of history every day ...

On the September 11, 2001, we, the Honorary Rangers, were busy with the semi-annual stocktake at Satara [one of the main camps in the Kruger National Park]. It was a fine spring morning. Suddenly, our cell phone rang.

The call was from our son, Ralph, who lives in Israel. He said, “do you have a TV at Satara? Quickly tune into CNN, because America is under attack. An airplane has crashed into one of The Twin Towers in New York“. While he was speaking I shouted to a staff member to switch the TV on. I then ran into the shop and broke the news to all.

There on the TV an unbelievable scene was unwinding. Watching in horror and not comprehending the reality, everybody reacted in shocked silence or with gasps of astonishment.

Visitors to Satara wandered onto the verandah in front of the snack-bar and coffee lounge and from that moment were glued to the TV. Here and there a tear was wiped away from an eye and other visitors ran to their cars to call families or friends. Back on the TV, almost like watching a science fiction film, there were lurid flames of exploding aviation petrol [fuel] and the billowing black clouds of smoke rising into the sky. It was like some scene from the worst, of worst nightmares.

Then, to add to the unreality, we looked, in horror, at a figure of a person diving out from the burning Tower, to his death. Adding to the nightmare, while speaking to our son, (calling once again from Israel) we watched in unison, the second airplane crashing into the second Tower. I wanted the nightmare to stop. Yet, it continued, as both Towers imploded. Terrified people ran away from the burning horror, being chased by clouds of smoke and dust, filled with pieces of rubble.

Oh! If only we could stop the action. If only we could rewind the scenario. If only we could wake up from this terrible dream!

What about the verandah? What about the tourist/visitors? There were no cars on the roads. The visitors/tourists were all sitting and watching, as if they were at a movie, the unwinding horror on the TV.

For a major part of the day, for many of them, game [animal] viewing was forgotten.

On this day, September 11, 2001, our world changed, for ever!!!

Harold and Edna Resnik. Honorary Game Rangers #175 and #71 Johannesburg, South Africa

Today, one year later, we remember all those who lost their lives ... as well as all those who have now become victims of terror.

May the essence of your spirits and souls rest in peace forever.

@ 5:53 PM [gmt +2] phlink |