story6529.xml

story6529.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

My husband and I were and two of our friends were to leave on September 8, 2001, for a weeks vacation in St. Marten, in the Carrabean. However, my husband's Uncle died and we had to delay our trip due to his funeral. Our friends left as planned and we were going to join them on Tuesday, September 11th. Our American Airlines flight left Dallas, Tx. on time and was uneventful and we landed at Miami for what we thought would be a short layover and then on to St. Marten!! However, while walking down the Jetway, we overheard a flight attendant say that she just heard a plane had crashed into the tower! Our first thought was Oh my, here in Miami? As we reached the terminal we were told that our flight to St. Marten would be delayed. Then I went to where a lot of people were watching a TV. My husband found a table and decided to finish some work he had brought with him. The pictures on the TV were shocking and I ran back to my Husband and told him that the World Trade Center had been hit by a commercial jet liner. We both went and watched in horror as the second plane hit the second building. Then we heard that the Pentagon was hit and knew this was something very bad. In the terminal, armed Police officers were everywhere, some with dogs and then loud alarms went off (twice) and the Airport was locked down. I was glad that the airport had been locked down, but I wondered who was locked in with us? No one could get in and no one could leave. Security personnel were everywhere so my tension eased somewhat. We were told to go claim our luggage and since every plane was grounded the luggage claim area was total chaos. Thousands of pieces of luggage were being lined up against the walls and everywhere and it was anybody's guess where our flight was being unloaded. We gave up searching for our luggage and decided to go eat some lunch. Then I told my husband we need to get a room (if there were any) in the hotel there, since we knew we would be there all night. We were fortunate to get one of the last remaining hotel rooms and then went to the restaurant for a quick bite to eat. We went back to find our luggage, each of us starting at opposite ends of the baggage claim area and finally found all of it after searching for two hours. We went to our room and sat on the bed and watched the news and cried. We heard about the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania and I knew those people were heros. I felt that plane was surely enroute to Washington D.C. to hit the Capital. We called our Boys back in Dallas to let them know that we were ok. Then we talked to the American Airlines ticket agent to see when we would be able to leave, they didn't know as the FAA had grounded all flights. We called our friends in St. Marteen and they had heard the news but still wanted us to try and come, if only for a few days. I just wanted to be back home with my kids, but we couldn't leave. For three days we watched the news and prayed for all of those that lost their lives and for all the families that didn't know where their loved ones were. It was agony but we were thankful that we were ok and thanked the Lord for keeping us safe. On Thursday morning we were told that some flights might be able to leave that afternoon, so we stood in a mile long line to have our tickets changed to fly back home to Dallas. We were indeed able to leave but while waiting to board the 777, I began to get scared. I looked at everyone checking in and I told my husband that for the first time, I was really afraid to get on the plane and maybe we should have rented a car a drove home. He tried to comfort me with little success. As we boarded the plane I looked at every passenger. Some were pilots in their uniforms, all were very quiet. The flight attendants were all very nice but I was still extremly nervous. We landed in Dallas and our son picked us up. When I entered our home, I hugged all of my three sons and told them how much I loved them and began to cry, not for me, but for all those people that would never have a chance to hug their loved ones again. I felt blessed. My anger at what the terrorists did to us is as strong as it was one year ago and We will never forget where we were that horrible morning and we will never forget or stop praying for all those men, women, and children that were murdered September 11, 2001.