story1501.xml

story1501.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-27

September 11, 2001 started out as one of the most beautiful days, blue skies and perfect temperatures in the 70's. I was driving to work when the first plane hit, the radio announcer only said there was a fire in the WTC, but I tried to find another station to find out what was going on. At one point on my way to work I come to a top of a hill which overlooks the New York skyline and usually the first thing that I see is the World Trade Center. That morning when I got to the top of the hill, I looked in horror because both towers were on fire, black smoke pouring out of them, it was so clear that day that I could see black lines running down the sides of the towers. Noone still was sure what was going on, I listened to a radio station who was watching a videotape of the second plane hitting, and saying that this had to be an attack. I am finally at the library, I run in, frantic at this point because my son takes the PATH train directly under the towers at 8:45 am everyday! Everyone is confused, frightened, and not sure what is happening. I run to my office, dial my son's office, and get his voicemail. I leave a message, please call me, something horrible has happened, please call me! My husband is calling me, crying, frightened, not knowing what is going on, not knowing where our son may be. I have to start my new job as trainer that day, my very first class was scheduled, and people are walking into the training room asking what has happened. My husband calls me to tell me Jason has gotten through to him on his cell phone, he had missed the first plane, he was walking to his office. As he walks out on the street, the second plane hits, and he tells us he didn't see it, but he heard it and felt it hit the building. Thank god my son is alright, now he has to get out of the city, which he does by 6:00 pm by walking down the FDR highway and seeing the most bizarre and surreal sights in his 27 years on this earth. Meanwhile, I teach my class, come out to the reference desk to find out that one tower has collapsed, the Pentagon has been hit, and wonder if this is the end of the world. The library was open all day, we gave a lot of information out to many frightened patrons, but the entire day my heart was broken. I couldn't wait to get home, my husband and I cried, for the relief of knowing our son was alive and home, and also for the many people who died that day. My heart has a huge hole in it even now, and I can still see those towers on fire as if it were yesterday. I am very fortunate that I did not lose anyone I love, but my life has been changed forever.