story5608.xml

story5608.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I had gone to San Diego to a conference for work. This was my first plane trip. I was scared as it was being in an unfamiliar city by myself. I was getting ready when I turned on the television. I came back into the room when the first plane flew into the first towers. I thought "Oh my god, those poor people". I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I then finished and left to go to my first session when they came in and said that president Busch had declared war that terroists were attacking. All I could think of was those poor people that had died. Then I was scared for myself I didn't know anyone and didn't know how and when I was going to get back to my own family. At this time airlines were shut down and they were not letting anyone out of the city. We had gone to a meeting to decide if we were going to cancel the conference or keep going. I was sitting there with my Emporia State jacket on when a lady came up to me and asked if I was from Emporia Kansas. I told her I was. She asked how I was getting home. I told her I had no idea but if she was going to rent a car I would go in on it. That is what we did. It took awhile before someone would rent us one. I know it was an act of god that we had met each other. I will never forget 9-1-1.