nmah30.xml

nmah30.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-06-24

I live in Los Angeles, California. I was getting ready for work when my phone rang at around 7:30pst. My friend Jan, from Delaware, asked me if I was listening to the news. I said, 'No.' She told me to turn my TV on, that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, and that my friend Rod Wotton was at work there. I turned on the TV and was riveted to the images I saw there. Jan also told me that Brenda, Rod's sister-in-law, and my best friend, was on the way to New Jersey to be with her sister Pat, who is Rod's wife. Pat was pregnant and the baby was due in a few days.

Pat and Brenda's parents were already at Pat's house in New Jersey, preparing to help with the baby's birth. I asked Jan to keep me posted, took my portable radio and went to work.

There was an eerie silence on the bus ride to work. Something was definitely up.

When I got to work, the radio was on and my co-workers were talking about what had happened. One person stayed at home, afraid to leave her house. Another employee left early to get her young daughter out of school near Los Angeles International Airport. Our company closed about 2 hour after I got there. I went home watched TV and waited for word on Rod.

During the course of the day I got several phone calls. In one call, I was told that Rod had called home on his cell phone, asking his father-in-law to take care of his family. He said he couldn't get out. Debris was blocking the exits and it was hard to breathe.

I prayed, called my mother and asked her to pray too. I had a hard time with feelings of helplessness. I lived in California and there wasn't much I could do from 3000 miles away exce[t give emotional support. I had moved from DC to California 3 years ago. I used to commute via the Pentagon Metro Station every day into downtown DC, where I worked at Internation Square. I was shocked at the Pentagon bombing and worried about many friends who use the Metro to commute.
I thought that if I was in DC, I could at least volunteer to work at GW Hospital. I felt like I would go crazy from inactivity. The feeling of helplessness was pervasive.

I stayed glued to the TV for the rest of the day. I made phone calls and sent email to friends back east. I had to hear if people were okay. I don't remember much about the rest of that week, except that I didn't go to work for a couple of days. I just couldn't handle getting calls about people and their computer problems. I spent the time watching TV, praying and hoping for good news about Rod from New York. None came.

Yes, my life has changed. I really appreciate what people in other countries have had to go through with things like suicide bombers and war that happens on their shores. I am closer to people than ever before. I procrastinate less. I know that every moment is important and this moment is all I may have.

Rod's second child, Rodney Patrick Wotton, was born on September 19.

What should be remembered about September 11th is the wake-up call that the events were to people worldwide, not just in the US. Look at people in the eye and see another human being - somebody's child. Speak to your neighbors. Don't be so self-absorbed. I think that we can accomplish a lot if we treat each other better.

Remember the heroes. The policemen, fireman and ordinary citizens who rescued people. Some lived, some gave their lives in service to their fellow human beings.

Remember the families of the victims. These people's lives will never be the same.

Remember that terrorism happens worldwide. We are not immune. We are not perfect and we should be looking for solutions to our differences that do no involve killing each other. We should remember that there are many people all over the world who have lived with terrorism all their lives. We have been very lucky.

And finally, remember to take care or yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Be good to yourself. Pursue your dreams. Love your family and friends. Every person you meet is a potential friend.

I have written a song, a memorial to Rod. It's called "Too Far Away". I burned it onto a CD and have been raising money for the Wotton Children's Fund with the proceeds.

Here are the words:

TOO FAR AWAY

Your wife's name is Patty,
You were Dorothea's daddy
You gave hugs to everybody
As you walked out the door
You couldn't have imagined
How close you'd be to heaven
On September 11
On the 97th floor
Your family expected you
To come home late that day
Little did they know
You would be TOO FAR AWAY

As you drank your cup of coffee
At the office that morning
It came crashing through the building
Like a giant wrecking ball
The firemen tried to get through
But they just couldn't get you
You knew there'd be no rescue
So you made that final call
And in that conversation
You told your wife that day
You would not be coming home
You were TOO FAR AWAY

Why did you go to work that day?
Why couldn't you have gone in late?
I can't believe you're a victim
of a madman's rage and you're not here today.

We thank you for your caring ways
And for the love you freely gave
We'll remember your laughter
Your bear hugs and your smile
Your children will know you
Through the stories told about you
We can still see your reflection
In their bright and sparkling eyes
And as you watch us from above
We hope you know that you are loved
Your memory will never be TOO FAR AWAY.


I would love to have the song included in the display. Please let me know who I need to talk to. My phone number is 310-562-2843. I can be reached by phone or email.

Yes I did fly the American flag. I fly the flag as a sign of unity and support for American citizens. I fly the flag as a symbol, an affirmation that America is "the land of the free".