story780.xml

story780.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-06-12

My husband and I had JUST started our vacation. We flew to London on United from Newark on September 10. We then flew to Madrid on Iberia. We were just leaving the airport when my husband got a call on his new cell phone from his friend. He said that a pland had flown into the World Trade Towers. Like many people, we figured it was a small private plane. We were in the cab on the way to our hotel, when our friend called back and told us it was a jetliner. We checked into the hotel and immediately turned on the TV to CNN. I was horrified to see the towers just collapsing and the repeat footage of the planes flying into the towers. Then the news reported that the pentagon was hit and showed footage of that site as well. About 15 minutes later they reported about a 4th plane going down in PA. When they said it was going from Newark to San Francisco and that it was United, I KNEW that I knew at least one of the crew members. (I fly out of Newark for United.) I was upset before, but when I heard about 93 I almost became hysterical. We then started calling people back home because we knew people would be concerned, especially since I work for United. Then we tried to get some sleep as we had been up all night. (Neither one of us sleep well on planes.) Later that day I called a friend of mine to try and find out who was on 93. My husband asked if I really wanted to know, but I NEEDED to know. I found out about half the names and checked to see if any of my really good friends were there, they weren't. As it turned out I knew 4 out of the 5 f/a's.
My husband and I stayed in Spain and tried to enjoy our vacation the best we could. We were basically stuck there, so we decided to make the best of it, but I couldn't put it out of my mind for a second. We constantly tuned in to CNN when we returned to our room to get the latest news. The people in Spain couldn't have been nicer or more sympathetic. We cut our vacation short by a day and flew home. We returned to the states via London and we stayed the night in the West End. (Which is the Arab Quarter.) We were a little shocked to see the Islamic Cultural Center for the UK right next to our hotel. Now we just laugh about it.
The most upsetting site was upon our arrival back into Newark. We saw the smoke rising from the Towers spot and then to see the same sceeners at security was VERY upsetting. These were the same people who allowed those monsters to get on the plane and murder my co-workers. Nothing had changed, despite all the talk on the news.
I returned to work in October. I flew until mid-December and now I am out on maternity leave. The job has changed and will never be the same again. One of my best friends is quitting because as she says, she signed up to be a stewardess not a cop and martial arts person. I am saddened by her decision, but I am hanging in there. I feel to quit is to give those ugly people another victory. They took away my sense of security in this country, I will not let them force me out of my job. (I also have 13 years invested and I don't want to start all over again some place else.) But now when I work I look at the people a little more and try to see what is going on.
My husband and I intend to travel again after I have our baby. We love to go to new places and we will not sit home out of fear. Is it a different world for me? You bet. But I am willing to try and make the best of it.