story6226.xml

story6226.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I was sitting at my desk when my supervisor came in saying
that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. I, like
many others, pictured in my mind a small Cessna-type plane
crashed into the exterior of the building. We all went to
our computers to see what we could find out. Many of us
couldn't even get on-line because the circuits were
overloaded. By the time I was able to get anything on my
screen, what I saw was so horrific that it hit me like a
thunderbolt. I still, to this day, get that feeling every
time I see those moments related on my television or
computer screen. We don't have access to a television in our
office, so one of my co-workers put on her radio so that we
could at least listen to a live commentary of what was
happening. With each horrible event that followed,
everything around me became more and more surreal. I could
not believe that this was really happening. After the second
tower went down, I had to just sit and try to take in and
validate in my mind what had just happened. My supervisor's
daughter lives in New York and worked not far from the World
Trade Center. She called when she could on her cell phone
to keep us abreast of what was going on where she was. As
anyone can imagine her mother was quite worried. As for me,
I finished my workday and had to go home to an empty house.
My husband was on a remote fishing lake in Canada, totally
unaware of what was happening here at home. He was not due
to come home until the following Saturday. Also, both my
daughters live in large cities, one in Chicago and one in
Seattle. There was a lot of talk about possible future
terrorist attacks on these larger cities which really had me
upset. I talked with my daughters every day and they assured
me that they would do everything humanly possible to stay
safe. So there I sat, night after night, worrying about my
immediate family - praying for their safety. If wasn't until
my husband got to Customs on his way back from Canada that
he found out about the attacks. I can't explain my relief
when he called to say he was on his way back home. I guess
that my situation made me think about the people who
searched for their loved ones day after day, knowing that
they were probably gone, yet not wanting to give up hope.
I pray for the victims and their survivors, and also for our
country. I pray that we will always remember how important
our freedom is, and what a great country we live in. I pray
that the unity we have found through this tragedy will
always remain. I pray that we will win the war on terrorism,
and will find peace, not only for our great country but for
the world. Thank you for taking the time to read my account
of what happened. I think it's good for all of us to let
our feelings out in the open. God bless you.