story10238.xml

story10238.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-12-04

I witnessed the Flight Attendant hurriedly moving back to meet another at the drink cart. "I need to speak with you in the back, now!", she stated. I assumed that there was a cranky passenger in First Class and continued to read my newspaper. As soon as we touched the ground, the Captain spoke to the passengers from the cockpit. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some very bad news to report to you" he said. "The World Trade Center has been attacked and all of the planes in this country have been grounded. We were asked to turn around and head back, but we did not have enough fuel, so we are the last plane in the air. The Airport in Denver is closed, there are no more rent cars, and the hotels are full, so good luck."

As we made our way to the gate, and the door was opened, I asked the Flight Attendant why she was crying. "We lost one of our planes", she said.

I was stunned to see the airport completely empty and concerned when I saw all of the lines at the rental car counters and pay phones. I quickly proceeded to the rent car bus and was granted admittance only because I had reservations. This was a supposed to be a routine trip to Denver. I got a nice car and decided to head to my hotel.

The hotel was full, but I persisted and the lovely clerk allowed me to check in early. I immediately called my wife and calmed her concerns, then headed to the office.

I had a difficult time entering the hospital where I worked, because it was completly locked down, so I worked from another office.

It was a couple of days before the airport was scheduled to open again. The rent car company suggested that I drive the car back to Dallas, and I did. Straight through, by myself in thirteen hours.

I hugged my wife and three children while they slept that night. I never take anything in this world for granted from that painful day, forward.