story3211.xml
Title
story3211.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
It was a beautiful morning in Indianapolis. I awoke to my alarm at about 7:30 and slowly got out of bed to walk my dog. When walking him I was thinking to myself what a beautiful September day we had been blessed with. The skies were clear, the sun was shining bright, and there was a cool breeze.
After walking my dog, I hopped in the showere and started to prepare for work. I usually arrive around 9:00 and as far I remember was on pace to do the same this Tuesday morning. I don't often have time to watch the television in the morning, I did not today either.
I walked out to my car oblivious as to what had and was transpiring. I always leave my radio in my car on, so as soon as the car started, the radio did as well. I have no recollection as to what station was on at the time, the only thing I remember hearing was "there is now talk that they are going to evacuate the Sears Tower" in Chicago.
I remember thinking, oh no, something is going on. My boss is not strict about when people arrive at work and thus I decided to run back up stairs, turn on the tv and see what was happening.
I was in disbelief at what I saw. The first tower had already been hit....it was a horrific site. I believe I was watching NBC, but I can't be sure. At the time, it just seemed as a fluke, a misguided plane, an accident. While watching the coverage, the second plane hit the second tower. "What the hell (probably not the actual word I used) is going on". At this point, people were starting to realize this was not an accident, this was intentional. Around this same time, they were also reporting that two other planes were missing, or were off course. I believe, inbetween the two planes hitting the World Trade Center towers, the 2nd or 3rd plane, depending on how you look at it, had hit the pentagon.
I was speechless, scared, angry, frightened. What was happening to our country, who was doing this, and why.
A 4th planes, then crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, luckily, not hitting anything on the ground, but still taking more innocent people on board that plane to their untimely deaths.
I had no concept of time at this point, I was in shock, I was in hell. Then, the first tower collapsed, followed by the second. All the innocent people, why God, why?
I remember thinking how many of those people in the towers were probably just like me....young professionals, just wanting to do their job and do it well. A world of opportunity was at our fingertips, and now it was all taken away from them. How easily that could have been me, or my friends.
Shortly thereafter, I started feeling concern for people I know in New York City, I knew they lived downtown, did they work there, did they have the day off, were the on vacation, what?
I called my dad, "Is this really happening?", "Is this on your tv too, or am I having a nightmare?" I wondered if I too had died, and this was my own personal hell, watching this. Unfortunately, my dads voice of reason confirmed my worst fears.
I was screaming at the top of my lungs, I couldn't understand why this was happening, was it over, what was next, is this war? I had lived in a Leave it to Beaver world for 26 years, I was not used to this sort of suffering and pain, I had no idea how to deal with it. I wanted to fight these people, I wanted a gun, I wanted revenge.
I was glued to the tv for the next 36 hours, I didn't go to work, didn't go my boss, nothing. I might have walked my dog once, that was it. I was afraid to leave.
Sometime later in the day, talking with one of my friends, I found out a friend of ours worked in one of the towers. I prayed and prayed for her safety. I did not know her well, but when we were together, we always had fun. She was a beautiful, free spirit who had always dreamed of living in New York City.
Watching all the coverage was gut wrenching, all the people walking around with pictures of their missing loved ones. How in the world can these people continue, where will they find their strength and resolve?
The next few days were a blur, no concept of time or reality. I was obsessed with gathering as much information as I could, even though it hurt.
Those few days were filled with a lot of prayer and questions. How could this happen to "us"?
Katies family finally had to give up hope that she was gone. How do parents make it through losing a daughter? How would my parents handle the same situation.
In Katies memory (and everyone elses for that matter) I put her initials on all my running shoes, and every race I run, I do if for her. I am not the fastest, or in the best shape, but I make it through my runs thinking of her. A marathon is difficult, but is nothing compared to what she and so many others had to go through. I love you Katie, and the Chicago Marathon this year is especially for you.
This morning (9/11/02) has an eerie feeling, it was just as beautiful as last years when I awoke.
None of you will ever be forgotten.
After walking my dog, I hopped in the showere and started to prepare for work. I usually arrive around 9:00 and as far I remember was on pace to do the same this Tuesday morning. I don't often have time to watch the television in the morning, I did not today either.
I walked out to my car oblivious as to what had and was transpiring. I always leave my radio in my car on, so as soon as the car started, the radio did as well. I have no recollection as to what station was on at the time, the only thing I remember hearing was "there is now talk that they are going to evacuate the Sears Tower" in Chicago.
I remember thinking, oh no, something is going on. My boss is not strict about when people arrive at work and thus I decided to run back up stairs, turn on the tv and see what was happening.
I was in disbelief at what I saw. The first tower had already been hit....it was a horrific site. I believe I was watching NBC, but I can't be sure. At the time, it just seemed as a fluke, a misguided plane, an accident. While watching the coverage, the second plane hit the second tower. "What the hell (probably not the actual word I used) is going on". At this point, people were starting to realize this was not an accident, this was intentional. Around this same time, they were also reporting that two other planes were missing, or were off course. I believe, inbetween the two planes hitting the World Trade Center towers, the 2nd or 3rd plane, depending on how you look at it, had hit the pentagon.
I was speechless, scared, angry, frightened. What was happening to our country, who was doing this, and why.
A 4th planes, then crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, luckily, not hitting anything on the ground, but still taking more innocent people on board that plane to their untimely deaths.
I had no concept of time at this point, I was in shock, I was in hell. Then, the first tower collapsed, followed by the second. All the innocent people, why God, why?
I remember thinking how many of those people in the towers were probably just like me....young professionals, just wanting to do their job and do it well. A world of opportunity was at our fingertips, and now it was all taken away from them. How easily that could have been me, or my friends.
Shortly thereafter, I started feeling concern for people I know in New York City, I knew they lived downtown, did they work there, did they have the day off, were the on vacation, what?
I called my dad, "Is this really happening?", "Is this on your tv too, or am I having a nightmare?" I wondered if I too had died, and this was my own personal hell, watching this. Unfortunately, my dads voice of reason confirmed my worst fears.
I was screaming at the top of my lungs, I couldn't understand why this was happening, was it over, what was next, is this war? I had lived in a Leave it to Beaver world for 26 years, I was not used to this sort of suffering and pain, I had no idea how to deal with it. I wanted to fight these people, I wanted a gun, I wanted revenge.
I was glued to the tv for the next 36 hours, I didn't go to work, didn't go my boss, nothing. I might have walked my dog once, that was it. I was afraid to leave.
Sometime later in the day, talking with one of my friends, I found out a friend of ours worked in one of the towers. I prayed and prayed for her safety. I did not know her well, but when we were together, we always had fun. She was a beautiful, free spirit who had always dreamed of living in New York City.
Watching all the coverage was gut wrenching, all the people walking around with pictures of their missing loved ones. How in the world can these people continue, where will they find their strength and resolve?
The next few days were a blur, no concept of time or reality. I was obsessed with gathering as much information as I could, even though it hurt.
Those few days were filled with a lot of prayer and questions. How could this happen to "us"?
Katies family finally had to give up hope that she was gone. How do parents make it through losing a daughter? How would my parents handle the same situation.
In Katies memory (and everyone elses for that matter) I put her initials on all my running shoes, and every race I run, I do if for her. I am not the fastest, or in the best shape, but I make it through my runs thinking of her. A marathon is difficult, but is nothing compared to what she and so many others had to go through. I love you Katie, and the Chicago Marathon this year is especially for you.
This morning (9/11/02) has an eerie feeling, it was just as beautiful as last years when I awoke.
None of you will ever be forgotten.
Collection
Citation
“story3211.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 25, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/12037.