Defining Moments in History: Where were you?

[looooob]

OJ trial verdict- staff/lunchroom at work
- Princess Diana death-at my apartment with then girlfriend/now wife
- 9/11- first morning home with our newborn son, turned on tv just as 2nd plane crashed
- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver- watching hockey game of my son with all parents having split attention (kids were in OT also)
- Gretzky trade -at my parents house, so happy
- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 -at home by myself, so happy
- Challenger explosion- buddies recroom, watching tv
- 1st Iraq Gulf war- in class at university

We know there are many others...
-JFK assassination- nope
-man on the moon-nope
-Berlin wall-hotel room in the states, can't remember where

[Yamer]

OJ Trial Verdict - Grade 6 classroom, listened to the verdict on what was considered to be the best new radio station at the time, KISS FM.

Princess Diana Death - Just got home from a WWF event in Red Deer. Turned on the TV and it was all over the place.

9/11 - I remember getting to school that day and one of my friends told me that 'America just got bombed'. I went to the student lounge, where the only tv was, and they were talking about a plane hitting the WTC. A few minutes later, the second plane hit. Then the bell rang for home room, and nobody was going to class.

Hockey Gold in Vancouver - Sitting at home, nervous as hell. I was so deflated after the US tied it, and I hopped around like an idiot when Sid scored the winner in OT. It was just AWESOME! I may never see another hockey game as exciting as that.

Gretzky Trade - Too young to remember.

Flames OT win vs Vancouver, 2004 - Can't remember exactly where I was, but I remember being so pissed off about that fan throwing a towel on the ice near the end. I'm sure I was pretty peeved about the tying goal too, and crazy about the game winner from The Eliminator.

Challenger explosion - Way too young to remember.

Gulf War - Too young to remember.

The too young to remember applies to the Berlin Wall as well, and I didn't even exist during the JFK assassination and the Moon Landing.

[socalwingfan]

OJ Trial Verdict - Don't remember - didn't really care

Princess Diana Death - My wife and I living in an apartment in Calgary on 7th Ave

9/11 - Me and 2 friends from work went surfing that morning before work oblivious to what was going on. Started to change for work and noticed my pager was going crazy - wife asking where I was, colleagues at work saying don't bother to come in. Thought there had been an earthquake, turned on the radio and it sounded like WWIII was breaking out - quickly turned around home to catch the first tower coming down on TV

Hockey Gold in Vancouver - Friends place in LA, fellow Canadian and we were outnumbered by American supporters - but we got the last laugh

Gretzky Trade - At home sick that day from school - remembered Price is Right being interrupted for the new conf

Flames OT win vs Vancouver, 2004 - no idea

Challenger explosion - no idea Gulf War - The lounge at SAIT - i think it was called Spartacus Lounge or something like that

[The Goon]

OJ trial verdict: Working, I believe

Princess Diana death: On vacation in NYC

9/11: Working at IBM in Toronto

Canada hockey gold in Vancouver: At home, just me and my preggo wife

Canada hockey gold in SLC: At a pub in Richmond Hill, ON. Face painted like the Canadian flag

Gretzky trade: Working that summer at a golf course north of Toronto. Funnily enough, I ran into Bernie Nicholls that afternoon, who was pretty excited about the news.

Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004: Hanging out at my townhouse in Crescent Heights with a buddy. Then we hit the streets.

Challenger explosion: Happened over lunch in Grade 10. Found out in math class right after, when the principal made an announcement

Columbia explosion: On my way to helping a friend move when the radio interrupted normal programming to go to the NASA feed.

1st Iraq Gulf war: The one in the early 90s? No idea. If it was the 2003 invasion, I was in South Africa on vacation.

Live Aid 1985: Working my VCR and watching every single moment

[malcolmk14]

I'll add Canadian Hockey gold in Salt Lake City - In a hotel room in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, watching the game at some ungodly hour.

[scotty2hotty]

- OJ trial verdict - At a girlfriend's house. Sitting with her family, watching the TV.
- Princess Diana death - In Kelowna visiting a girlfriend's mother (not the same one as above). Came on the news on the TVs in the restaurant.
- 9/11 - Living in Atlanta. Woke up to the clock radio talking about it. Got out of bed and immediately turn on the TV. The lady next door knocked and asked if she good watch with me because she was too scared to be alone.
- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - Sitting at home, by myself, watching on TV. I live in Vancouver ... wanted to actually focus on the game and avoid the hysteria. All of my buddies went to a bar and had a terrible view.
- Gretzky trade - In the Shushwap on vacation with my folks. Hated the Oilers and Gretzky .. but instantly became a Kings semi-fan.
- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - Again, at home alone so that I could focus on the game. Maybe I should stick to this pattern for all important games! I lived just off of 17th avenue. First night that the Red Mile truly erupted and I heard the honking for hours. Couldn't sleep because of it .... but I had a huge smile on my face anyway.
- Challenger explosion - 7th grade science class. Teacher came in and broke the news.
- 1st Iraq Gulf war - Working at Canadian Tire . All of the TVs were showing the same footage of the bombs over Baghdad.

[calgaryred]

lets see

- OJ trial verdict - I was moping around cause a girl I really liked broke up with me.

- Princess Diana death - I was talking on the phone and a friend told me.

- 9/11 - I woke up getting ready for work and my ex freaked out yelling for me to come to the TV where I saw the aftermath of what was the NY twin towers.

- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - I was at my moms house eating nachos watching the game

- Gretzky trade - I was at school came home saw on TSN it was done and I was dancing and soooo happy, I hate the Oilers

- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - I was at home and me and my ex were celebrating ( we lived in Kelowna) wearing my Flames Jersey and went to the store, they locked the doors when they saw me in a Flames jersey. It was a joke I knew the employees and they were bugging me.

- Challenger explosion - I was home sick from school and watched the aftermath of the incident all day

- 1st Iraq Gulf war - I was at home (parents) I was hoping USA would win quickly

-JFK assassination - I think I was sperm floating in my dad's left testicle

-man on the moon - I think I was sperm floating in my dad's right testicle

-breaking down the Berlin wall - I was visiting Vancouver and watching from my motel room Germans breaking down the wall with sledge hammers

- Rodney King Verdict - I was at my brother's house in New Westminster watching the mob break-out in L.A still remember the beating of that poor white trucker.

[Sainters7]

- OJ trial verdict - in class in elementary school. I remember someone from an older grade running in celebrating & telling us the news.

- Princess Diana death - at my cousin's place in Edmonton.

- 9/11 - working at a golf course on a sandtrap machine by myself all day. Didn't find out about it until about 2:30pm because I skipped lunch. Probably the last person in the western world to find out about it.

- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - at my buddy's place here in St. Albert. We celey'd hard after that. Was good times.

- Gretzky trade - at my aunt & uncle's in Edmonton. Was very young, too young to get it. All I remember is the Edmonton news showing a pic of Gretzky & then superimposing a purple & gold Kings uni on him (they released the black & silvers the next season).

- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - outside cursing the gods for the Canucks tying it, didn't realize OT had started yet. As someone who had been a fan since '91 & watched us lose 3 game 7 OT's in 5 years, that infuriates me I missed it.

- Challenger explosion - no idea, too young.

- 1st Iraq Gulf war - living in N.E. Calgary. Quite young, don't remember when it actually started, but I remember skating on outdoor rink & seeing floodlights & thinking it was because Iraqi jets could attack. Makes sense.

[metallicat]

- OJ trial verdict - was in some class in junior high, and a teacher came in to tell us he was found not guilty.

- Princess Diana death - had just come home from the lake visiting relatives, and it came on the news or the radio or something. I remember my parents calling the lake to tell everyone who was still out there what had happened.

- 9/11 - was just waking up to go to work, when my mom started yelling for someone to turn on CNN. I can't believe it's been so long.

- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - watching the game at my place, magical moment

- Gretzky trade - was at home, six years old, and I remember crying about it.

- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - don't remember

- Challenger explosion - I remember watching that on TV, four years old, and cowering behind a chair in the living room because I was scared.

- 1st Iraq Gulf war - my family had just come back from Disneyland, and I was over at my buddies house across the street from where I lived. I came home to the news that the war had stared, and I remember being worried that it was going to hit us at home. 9 years old.

[tete]

OJ trial verdict - university, I think, but I can't remember the exact day and where I was.

- Princess Diana death - had moved into my new apartment that day and was watching TV - my roommate was over at her boyfriend's place so I just sat there, stunned completely. I got up to watch her funeral before I headed to work for the day.

- 9/11 - was watching Canada AM while getting ready for work and they switched to the NBC (I think) feed - saw the second plane hit the second tower.

- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - watching the game at home

- Gretzky trade - at home, don't recall what I was doing.

- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - no clue, I'll be honest, I wasn't much of a Flames fan then.

- Challenger explosion - I was in school and our school secretary told us

- 1st Iraq Gulf war - I was in junior high at the time, all I remember was having some terrible nightmares about the war in the first few weeks.

[the crispy badger]

-OJ trial verdict-In English class in HS
- 9/11-Sitting in my bedroom flipping through the channels, and came upon the building on fire, it sounds like a cliche now but yes I thought it was movie scene
- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver-at my ex gf brandis house watching with her and her parents
- Gretzky trade-watching with my mom on a very hot aug afternoon in Calgary
- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004-living out in Dieppe NB with my ex fiance Nicole, i'm sure I woke the neighbors i screamed so loud.
- Princess Diana death-at Rollerland in Calgary during an all night session.
- Michael Jackson dying-at work, i heard someone say they were glad he was dead and I felt like punching him in the mouth.
-Live Aid 1985-At the stampede July 13th 1985..i remember seeing Bryan Adams and Tina Turner on the screen they had set up.

[something]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bacon Legs

Martin Luther - interesting times, as I knew him quite well. I tried to convince him to go for an even 100 theses, but he wouldn't listen.

I lawled.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by the crispy badger

Gretzky trade-watching with my mom on a very hot aug afternoon in Calgary

A hot day in Calgary, but it was minus 99 in Edmonton. (Remember that joke?)

[miraisoup]

OJ trial verdict
In school, grade 9 I believe. They brought a TV into the Gym and we watched it there.

Princess Diana death
Honestly do not remember

9/11
I was in PEI at the Academy of Learning and my trainer came up to me and said to me and my friend "world's ending boys"

Canada hockey gold in Vancouver
Friends house watching the game, losing my voice

Gretzky trade
Watching it when I was very young with my grandmother.

Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004
In my living room losing my mind

The last 2 I don't recall where i was.

[schteve_d]

- OJ trial verdict Huddled around the tv in the lunchroom at work - Canadian tire in Nanaimo, BC
- Princess Diana death Working at a beer and wine store in Lantzville, BC
- 9/11 Called in sick to work - Canadian Tire in Nanaimo - with the flu. Sat on the couch and watched all day.
- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver McRays's Roadhouse and Grill, Fort McMurray, Ab.
- Gretzky trade Don't remember
- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 Watching at work in the customer lounge while working an evening shift at Ford in Fort McMurray.
- Challenger explosion Skiing at Edelwiess Valley in Wakefield, PQ on a school trip and we heard it on the speakers outside the chalet.
- 1st Iraq Gulf war My Uncle's living room in Vancouver, BC

[arloiginla]

- Princess Diana death - don't remember much, I was at home

- 9/11 - at home, getting ready for an early-morning piano lesson, mom called me down as it was on the TV right after the first tower got hit

- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - watched by myself. I wasn't feeling well that day, family was watching upstairs, gf was watching at her place, I was watching in the basement of my familys house...I felt ineeded to be alone in case Canada lost because I wasn't going to be able to handle it...when Crosby scored I just dropped off the couch onto my knees in relief....then proceeded to pick up the gf and head down to the Red Mile.

- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - had a big test or something the next day at school so was in bed listening to Peter Maher's call of the 3rd period. Thought we had it won, when Cooke tied it I actually thought Peter was pranking everyone...I was in such disbelief. I distinctly remember hearing some large object hitting the wall with considerable force in my sister's bedroom next to mine (her radio, later I heard). I spent the entire OT intermission frozen in my bed with horror. I couldn't even turn on the radio for the start of OT. My mom poked her head in 20 minutes later telling me, you can go to sleep. They won.

I was too worn out to celebrate...but man did I sleep well that night with a sh*t-eating grin on my face.

2002 Salt lake Men's hockey gold - I was in Hawaii. We were out at the beach and missed the first two periods but watched the 3rd in our room (me and my family). When Canada won we came out of the hotel and Canadians were parading down Lewers street singing and waving flags, wearing hockey jerseys. We happily joined the procession.

[Ashartus]

- OJ trial verdict: Don't remember/care. I do remember seeing the car chase while picking up a friend to go camping.
- Princess Diana death: At home watching some really dumb spy show that got interrupted.
- 9/11: Saw everyone crowded around the TV outside the A-Channel studio on the way to work.
- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver: Watching at home.
- Gretzky trade: Camping next to some people from Edmonton.
- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 : In Turks and Caicos (luckily lots of other Canadians at the resort so we had the game on TV).
- Challenger explosion: at school
- 1st Iraq Gulf war: I think I'd just come home from school and heard reports on the radio.

[calgaryrocks]

OJ trial verdict - don't remember
- Princess Diana death - dont remember, probably at school or something
- 9/11 - watching breakfast television before heading off to school, a friend came over in the morning every day and walked in the door right after it happened
- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - watching the game with 3 friends in my basement suite, on the big screen, jumping up and down
- Gretzky trade - a little to young to remember that
- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - watching the game with my dad, we couldn't believe it
- Challenger explosion - don't remember
- 1st Iraq Gulf war - don't remember

[Resolute 14]

OJ - It was announced over the PA at school. At the time, I thought it was stupid that such a thing was considered so important to announce. At the present, I remain bewildered at how this is considered a "defining moment in history".

Diana - no idea.

9/11 - Just pulled into the parking lot for my second day on a new job. As with above, you knew right away it was serious because Gerry Forbes wasn't being a clown on the radio.

Canada Hockey gold - Personally I consider the 2002 gold more significant. In both cases, I was relaxing at home with a giant smile

Gretzky trade - no idea

Flames eliminate Canucks: Buddy's place watching the game. Was in the arena for the last games of the Detroit, San Jose and Tampa series.

Challenger - found out when I got to school.

Gulf war - again, hardly a defining moment, relative to other wars. No idea where I was.


As a tangent, I wonder what the defining moments in Canadian history would be? From the 72 Summit series forward, all I can think of is watching the red line and the blue line in the 1995 Quebec referendum.

[COGENT]

- OJ trial verdict - At school (junior high)
- Princess Diana death - At my parents house
- 9/11 - In the bar below the hostel I was staying at in Amsterdam.
- Canada hockey gold in Vancouver - At a friends house here in Calgary with all my best buddies
- Gretzky trade - I was pretty young
- Flames eliminating the Canucks in OT, game 7, 2004 - At a pub in Medicine Hat
- Challenger explosion - can't remember
- 1st Iraq Gulf war - can't remember