story8721.xml

story8721.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-12-06

I wake up for work at 8:30 am every morning. When I woke the morning of September 11th, 2001, it was unlike any other day. I remember listening to Howard Stern, and a caller called in to the show to say something about airplanes crashing into a building in New York City or otherwise. I didn't think much of it, and I went on my way to work. I arrived at work at 9:15 am, still not knowing what was going on. At 10:30 am, my Asst. Director came to us and told us that and airplane had struck The Pentagon in Washington D.C. We had no idea what was going on, but soon after, everyone was concerned. I work in a daycare in the downtown area of Pittsburgh and of course, everyone was on alert. We immedately turned to the news channel on am radio and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The entire daycare and the city was in chaos. After hearing that a hijacked airplane was around the Pittsburgh area was very frightening. We immediately starting evacuating the children, calling parents, sending children home to be with their families. Since I am not married and have no children of my own, I volunteered to stay at work until the last child was gone for the day. I left work at 2:30pm. Downtown Pittsburgh was so quiet at this point. Nothing was open. The buses were quiet, very few passengers aboard. People were already on the streets, selling hot-off-the-press newspapers of what had happened that day in NYC, D.C. and Shanksville, PA. I continued to take the bus to my parents house to be with my Mother who had already been watching the news all day long. When I arrived, I was finally able to watch images of what had happened on CNN Headline News and I was appalled. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Nothing will ever be the same. It took a very long time to get back to normal, to be able to feel safe going to work let alone walking outside the house. God Bless those who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001. We will never forget. xo