story1238.xml
Title
story1238.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-08-19
911DA Story: Story
I had just opened my eyes. My television watches me all night, so it was already on the news. The reporters were saying that they had reports that a plane had hit WTC... as I watched the footage and they speculated on what the heck happened, another, right as we watched hit the second tower. I couldn't believe it! I was horrified, I knew that it could not be an accident now.
I tried to shake off the shock and went to take a shower and get ready for work. I took a very short shower because I started having a gut feeling that it had only just begun.
As I approached my room again... there were reports that the White House was on fire... scared me to all heck. Then shortly after they said a plane had hit the Pentagon and that four other planes, bound for Los Angeles were unaccounted for. Mind you they never recanted the White House fire blunder.
I thought the world as we know it was ending. I was terrified to go to work. I live in Lawndale and work in Burbank... one route I go past LAX the alternate rounte is through downtown and there was no way I was going to be 30 miles away from my Mother and Child when I had no idea what was happening and else was going to happen. I was so frightened.... not knowing if America was still going to be free.
My Job thought I was crazy for not coming in saying things like "you know they're not coming to get you, right"... I think they are crazy for going to work and not spending time with their families in that time of unsured safety and possible total upheaval of our daily lives as we knew them. Plus they all live minutes away from home.
I still take long hard looks at the planes that fly over downtown LA in there final turn to approach LAX.
Years before 9/11/01 I had made comment to a friend that one day a depressed pilot is gonna slam into one of those skyscrapers... I've always watched them turn around over the buildings. My friend said I was crazy, no one would ever do that. Now that friend asks me what else do I worry about so that he can keep an eye out.
I am so glad that it did not get worse that day, but I will never be the same and I am actually working on never feeling over-secure anywhere. We have to be observant and take care of one another... all the time, not just in crisis.
I tried to shake off the shock and went to take a shower and get ready for work. I took a very short shower because I started having a gut feeling that it had only just begun.
As I approached my room again... there were reports that the White House was on fire... scared me to all heck. Then shortly after they said a plane had hit the Pentagon and that four other planes, bound for Los Angeles were unaccounted for. Mind you they never recanted the White House fire blunder.
I thought the world as we know it was ending. I was terrified to go to work. I live in Lawndale and work in Burbank... one route I go past LAX the alternate rounte is through downtown and there was no way I was going to be 30 miles away from my Mother and Child when I had no idea what was happening and else was going to happen. I was so frightened.... not knowing if America was still going to be free.
My Job thought I was crazy for not coming in saying things like "you know they're not coming to get you, right"... I think they are crazy for going to work and not spending time with their families in that time of unsured safety and possible total upheaval of our daily lives as we knew them. Plus they all live minutes away from home.
I still take long hard looks at the planes that fly over downtown LA in there final turn to approach LAX.
Years before 9/11/01 I had made comment to a friend that one day a depressed pilot is gonna slam into one of those skyscrapers... I've always watched them turn around over the buildings. My friend said I was crazy, no one would ever do that. Now that friend asks me what else do I worry about so that he can keep an eye out.
I am so glad that it did not get worse that day, but I will never be the same and I am actually working on never feeling over-secure anywhere. We have to be observant and take care of one another... all the time, not just in crisis.
Collection
Citation
“story1238.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 10, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/10060.