Just asked jeanie, who remembered everything... every detail.
Timeline here:
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Timeline_for_the_day_of_the_September_11_attacks
We were living in our campground at Woodhaven. Our plan for the day was to meet with our Florida Snowbird friends in Rockford Il. TV on and just about to turn it off... (four out of the 22 people who were supposed to go to the reunion actually made it... started before the crash).
Stunned, we watched the news of the accident, and the confusion around it.
As the implications become clearer, we realized a once in a lifetime event was happening.
About an hour later, we called the kids.
Next... we went to the bank and took out a fairly large sum of money.
Filled up the van with gas, went to the store and bought up $200 worth of non-perishables... then filled all available containers with kerosene, for our kerosene heaters...
The fear was real... what next? Chicago? What about something nuclear? If two planes... three planes... why not more? Even as the airports closed, who knew what the limits of the attack might be? Arson, bombs, water contamination, electricity disruption. What if the plan was not from one small group, but a nationwide cabal, with extended plans to continue the terror.
For us, retired for 10 years, some very emotional moments... thankful for what we already had enjoyed and realistic about what might lie ahead. With indefinite discharge, not likely, but maybe a recall... even at this age? Hundreds of scenarios.
Unforgettable... to this day, a life changing experience.