story3619.xml

story3619.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

On that day I can remember taking my kids to school & daycare like I normally did and then coming home to work as I work out of my house. It seemed to be a typical day as I picked up the phone and started to make calls. I called my other office to see what was happenening and I remember the voice on the other end of the phone saying that I wouldn't believe what was happening turn on your TV. I did just that and sat there stunned for quite a while in disbelief. Later in the day I began to make more calls and began to find out what was happening w/the gas prices in the midwest, and how nobody wanted to take any loads from me as they were scared about what was happening w/the fuel and the country. So, during lunch time I ran out and fueled up my vehicle because I knew that the fuel scare was out there and it was coming our way.

After picking up my children, I had to run to the grocery store. The gas station at the store had a line up of cars that was unbelievable. My son asked many questions why?? That night after speaking w/our children we let them see a little of the news so that they could try to understand what was happening.

Later on that night, my son(3yrs) took all his hotwheels and lined them along the back of the couch in a perfect line. When asked why he did that, he said "Mommy, it is my gas line!!" Then I looked at my daughter (7 yrs) and she had taken a sticky note off of my desk and had drawn a picture of a building with an airplane hitting it with the date and had stuck it to our refrigerator. I couldn't believe how much of an impact it had on these children and how much they absorbed of what was going on. It brought tears to my eyes and just made me want to hold on them tighter. I feel for all the people directly affected by this tragedy.