story5158.xml

story5158.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

We were holding a Forecast conference that day. It was the last day of the conference. Over 300 burly steel men - mostly Presidents and Vice Presidents - were gathered in large rooms to hear what the economy would bring to the steel industry the next year. They didn't know it at the time, but their coveted forecast would soon be obsolete.

That morning, before any of it happened, I was telling my co-workers that I dreamt the night before of planes crashing and debris falling and fire so hot it woke me out of my sleep. When I found out what happened, I realized my nightmare had become reality. I made a mad dash for the phone to call my boyfriend who worked only 15 miles from Ground Zero. Thankfully, he was all right. The details were sketchy and he knew as much as I did. Just that it happened - that maybe it was an accident. Then the second plane hit.

Within a matter of minutes, the conference came to an abrupt halt. The hotel wheeled out tv carts and everyone scurried to the TVs to see what happened. The pandemonium of it all was so heart breaking that I had to leave the hotel. I got back to my parents home. I turned on the TV, flipped on MSNBC, cuddled up with their dogs and watched as the first tower collapsed. I was stunned. I opened my mouth to scream but nothing came out. All of the sudden, the impact of what happened erupted inside of me and I broke down. I cried, I sobbed, I screamed, I yelled. How dare anyone do this to us!? I was never so angry in my life. I was never so full of despair.

Each time they played video of the plane crashing into the towers, it was like someone punching me in the heart.

I remember what I wearing that day. Even down to the talisman I was never without. I haven't worn it since. It would be like reliving it all again in such a personal way.

I couldn't get enough of the news coverage. I watched through the entire night. I barely slept, but when I did it wasn't peaceful. One year later, there has not been a day that's gone by where I haven't thought about what happened. When people ask what they could do to help, I say all they need to do is remember and to never forget.

September 11, 2001 was a day that brought big, strong men and everyone in between down to their knees. It brought us closer as a community, as a family, as one. From this terrible tragedy, we somehow grew even stronger. Faith was restored in the American Spirit. Fifty years from now, when my grandchildren ask me where I was when it was September 11, 2001, I'll tell them exactly what I told here. I won't forget. Ever.