story5014.xml

story5014.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was at home in Silicon Valley at 7:00am, getting ready for work, when a friend called to say a plane had crashed into the world trade center, and I should turn on the news. I turned on the radio, and felt alarmed at the tone of emergency in the reporting. I figured it was a major airline accident, so sad. Then I checked the web, and saw rumours of a second plane, and a third crashing the Pentagon, and a fourth, headed for the White House, being followed by jet fighters ready to blow it out of the sky. I had no tv, but saw the images on the web.

I went to work at 11am, two hours late, and found almost no one at work. My boss was there, and he said I could go home. An e-mail message from somebody high up in the company said to go home. So, I left. Even though many of us had expected a large layoff that very day, Tuesday, September 11.

We were laid off on Wedesday, September 12, 2001, instead. I have spent now exactly one year out of work. I'm kinda bummed. So I start studing for a new field of employment.
Best to everyone, anyone who reads this. Ralph.