story3452.xml

story3452.xml

born-digital

story

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2002-09-11

As I drove to work this morning, the memories of that unforgettable day, came flooding back to me. I listened to the radio, not my usual station, but one commemorating this Day of Remembrance. I heard the bagpipes as the procession approached Ground Zero. I looked at my clock as it counted down the minutes to exact moment one year ago that the first plane hit the World Trade Building. The tears swelled in my eyes as I observed the one minute of silence. My cell phone rang, I ignored it. A minute or so later, it rang again. It was my husband. He called to say that he was thinking about what had happened last September 11th, and wanted to just tell me that he loves me and that he is grateful to have me in his life. It reminded me of a cell phone call I had heard about that occurred during these acts of terrorism. It was a call from a man on one of the planes that crashed. He spoke with an operator moments before his death, and wanted her to tell his wife that he loved her. She did. I was lucky enough to hear it straight from my husband?s own voice this morning.

I received a phone call at 9am the morning of September 11th from my mother-in-law in tears. ?Go get the kids from school, they?re attacking the United States, turn on the TV.? I raced to the television and immediately sat down when I saw the smoke pouring out of the World Trade Building. I called a neighborhood friend and told her to turn on her television. She and I sat on the phone in silence for a few moments. The second plane hit. ?Will you go to the school to pick up Sarah, my car is in the shop?? I asked her. She replied, ?Absolutely, I?m going to get Paulie too.? A few minutes later, she showed up with my daughter and hers. She then left her daughter with me and went to pick up her son from another school. In the meantime, I sent the two little girls off to play with my 2-year-old son, so I could keep posted on what was happening. My oldest daughter, 12, was home sick that day, and watched with me. I had no answers for her. The fear built inside of me as I heard of additional planes still in the air. Are we at war? Where will they strike next? Should I be afraid? I called my husband who worked as an electrician at a large stadium being built. By the time I could get a hold of anyone at the stadium, the workers were already being sent home. My friend showed up with her son, and we continued to watch in horror as we heard reports of the other 2 planes crashing down. We were holding back the tears for the sake of the children feeling safe, but we were afraid ourselves. Would they try to hit the Nuclear Power Station just a few miles from our home? All I wanted was my family near me. My husband walked in the door, I greeted him with a hug. I was relieved to have him home. They were all here, and safe.

I called my father who is a Boston Police Officer to see if he had any additional information. He told me that no one was being allowed in or out of the Police Station for security reasons. ?I don?t know what is going on, or even what?s going to happen, but I want to tell you that I love you?, I said. ?I love you too. It?ll be okay.? He replied.

I spent the rest of the day feeling sad, scared, and overwhelmed. That night, I tucked my children into bed, kissed them, and savored how sweet they smelled. I thought of the thousands of parents who lost their children that day, young and old alike. I thought about the courageous hero?s that gave their life to save others. I did not know any of these people personally, but at the same time, the loss feels very personal. I look at the victims of September 11th list of names every so often and look over the photos, details of each of their lives and about the loved ones left behind.

This morning I left an electric candle glowing in my window. I will never forget.

I believe that one year ago today we all became one family.