story6543.xml

story6543.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

My mother calls me for everything - drive-bys in LA, police pursuits on the 405, bad traffic on the 210 Pomona. On 9/11 she called me to tell me to turn on the tv. She insisted when I told her I had to get the kids ready for school. I couldn't understand what she was saying.

I turn on the tv to see the second plane hit. I couldn't believe it. It had to be an accident, no one would do such a horrible thing.

Then the channel I was watching split the screen to show the Pentagon in flames. The Pentagon?! You can't hurt the Pentagon. Its the center of our Nation's defense.

Then the plane crashed in Pennsylvania.

I felt as if the world had stopped. I sat on the couch with my middle daughter and watch. I held my son's hand. I could explain anything to them - I couldn't understand it myself.

At work several people in my department didn't make it in due to the traffic at LAX. The rest of us surfed the internet and listen to the radio to get more information. After work, my older girls went to the Red Cross. We watch the continuing news casts and prayed for the missing.

On Saturday, my kids and I went to see Pat Benatar at the LA County Fair. While we were watching the concert, the Ontario Airport was open again. I remember crying as I watch the airplanes' lights twinkle and fly away. The cheering of the crowd and the feeling of community was overwhelming.