story5580.xml

story5580.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

On my way out the door to go to college and work, I passed my friend watching tv. I asked if there was anything interesting in the news, and he didn't answer me. I looked at the tv to see why he couldn't answer me just in time to see the second tower get hit. As I watched it I realized what was going on and sank into the chair. I had forgotten about having to go school for a few minutes, until I realized I was late and pulled myself into my car and drove to the university. Upon arriving I was asking everyone I saw if they knew what was happening. I came to a very close friend and started to tell her what I had seen, and she thought I was kidding, she had no idea what had happened until I turned the radio on. She sank into a chair and was speechless. We sat there for a few minutes thinking and thought we should get to work. We gathered our tools and a radio and started building while talking about what was going on. Next thing we know someone ran to where we were and told us that they had just seen the first tower collapse and that other planes were hitting the pentagon and Pennsylvania. We dropped everything and ran to watch the 3 inch television that 25 other people couldn't take their eyes off, all crowded around and embracing each other. We got there just in time to see the second tower fall and all the people running and screaming. Neither of us could take watching it anymore and walked outside of the room tears billowing from our eyes. We hugged and comforted each other. We decided we were to emotional to go back to work, so we cleaned up our tools. At this time the school hadn't cancelled classes so we sat in the scene shop talking and listening to the radio. A couple of minutes later our boss comes in and joins our conversation. Me, our boss, my friend, and a few other people sat there just talking about life and how priorities change and anything else that came up, until the school cancelled classes at noon for everyone. I can't ever remember a time when everyone forgot about everything else in their lives and realized how trivial many of their problems are. In that 3 hours I was at school everyone showed compassion and their humanity. Everyone was affected. I saw strong men cry, selfish people give, and teachers and students being closer and more intimate. Older people always talk about where they were when Kennedy was shot, or wars they've been in. Until NY was hit the only event I could remember was when the Challenger exploded, and even that only vaguely, but 9/11 will always live in my memories. I'll remember the horrors of the attack, but more importantly, I'll remember the people, all the emotions, and the conversations we had that morning, forever! I'm lucky and greatful to have had the oportunity to weather the storm with those special unforgetable people!