story1173.xml

story1173.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-19

I was unemployed at the time, and had just gotten out of the shower to hear a message being left on my answering machine by my father. He was saying to turn on my television, that a plane just hit the trade center. My first thought was actualy something like "wait a sec, its not April fools or anything" as I was turning on the TV...then, just as I popped in a tape to record what was happening the second plane hit. I just stood there in disbelief, my jaw hanging, wondering what the hell was going on. Looking back on it, I'm surprised I didn't think it was a terrorist attack, even after the second plane hit. I am into aviation, and used to take flight lessons, and my first thought was along the lines of some kind of crazy autopilot malfunction...I guess I just didn't want to believe anybody could do something like this on purpose.

I called my wife at work and told her what was happening and she didn't believe me at first, I told her to turn on the radio and she was just in shock. I spent the rest of the day in front of the TV with my jaw on the floor and tears in my eyes.