story8681.xml
Title
story8681.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-11-25
911DA Story: Story
While my story may not be as dramatic as those told by others, it is what it is. I am twenty six and in my generation there have not been that many volatile ?glued to the TV? events as there have been in generations past. Everyone remembers where they were when Kennedy was shot. Memories of the tension of Cuban Missile Crisis. Where were you when Lennon died? I was not yet born for any of this and it is difficult for me to fathom an event so epic that one would remember forever where they were. September 11, 2001 was my first
It was four days before I was to be married and my fianc? and I were wrapping up the last of the details of our wedding. This day was the last I was to work before taking time off for the ceremony, but I was running late at home making arrangements on the phone. As I was walking out the door, my brother called me and informed me someone had crashed a plane into the Trade Center. No one yet suspected terrorism but rather assumed an accident reminiscent of the WWII bomber that hit the Empire State Building. I was watching MSNBC as they showed a replay of the event when my brother informed me this was not in fact a replay, but a second impact on live national television.
I was glued to the TV for several hours before leaving for work. I wanted to be sure nothing was headed near Chicago. Chaos ensued at my household. Out minister was stranded in DC. Out flowers lay wilting on a runway in California. Half our guests were grounded in Pennsylvania, Seattle, Arizona, amongst other places.
Some help from friends allowed us to make last minute arrangements and the wedding was a success, but it was quite peculiar to enter a new phase of life while so many others were closing the final chapter on theirs. My family was fortunate enough not to lose anyone in the targeted areas so I cannot imagine what others must have felt. I felt guilty that my worries were only that of where to get our wedding decorations on four days notice while others were wondering whether or now their loved ones had survived the buildings collapse.
Regardless, I am sure to never forget my anniversary, sadly not for reasons I care to remember.
It was four days before I was to be married and my fianc? and I were wrapping up the last of the details of our wedding. This day was the last I was to work before taking time off for the ceremony, but I was running late at home making arrangements on the phone. As I was walking out the door, my brother called me and informed me someone had crashed a plane into the Trade Center. No one yet suspected terrorism but rather assumed an accident reminiscent of the WWII bomber that hit the Empire State Building. I was watching MSNBC as they showed a replay of the event when my brother informed me this was not in fact a replay, but a second impact on live national television.
I was glued to the TV for several hours before leaving for work. I wanted to be sure nothing was headed near Chicago. Chaos ensued at my household. Out minister was stranded in DC. Out flowers lay wilting on a runway in California. Half our guests were grounded in Pennsylvania, Seattle, Arizona, amongst other places.
Some help from friends allowed us to make last minute arrangements and the wedding was a success, but it was quite peculiar to enter a new phase of life while so many others were closing the final chapter on theirs. My family was fortunate enough not to lose anyone in the targeted areas so I cannot imagine what others must have felt. I felt guilty that my worries were only that of where to get our wedding decorations on four days notice while others were wondering whether or now their loved ones had survived the buildings collapse.
Regardless, I am sure to never forget my anniversary, sadly not for reasons I care to remember.
Collection
Citation
“story8681.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 1, 2026, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/14124.