story8706.xml

story8706.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-12-02

I started out my day like any other. I was listening to my favorite morning show on the radio. They were talking about a plane that had hit the World Trade Center, but they weren't sure if it was just an accident. I was extremely worried and curious so I went in to the other room where my Dad has a little TV. I told him what I had heard on the radio and then I turned on the TV. What I saw will be burned into my memory forever. It was the second plane crashing into the WTC, and it seemed like it was in slow motion. My Dad and I sat there in disbelief and I felt like a scared little kid. We watched in horror as people started clinging to the outsite of the towers, some even jumping. Minutes later, the reports came that the Pentagon had been hit by another plane. I went over to were my Dad was sitting and he gave me a hug, tears streaming down our faces, mouths open in disbelief, and I said, "We're going to war." We sat stunned and watched the first tower collapse. It was like being paralyzed. I couldn't even think straight, everything felt so numb and strange. I remember going to work and listening to the updates on the radio at my desk. On one of my breaks, I walked to the Ford dealership across the street and asked one of the salesmen if I could take an American flag that they had flying on the antennas of the cars. He looked at me with melancholy eyes and told me, "Of course." I put it on the antenna of my car and let our flag forever wave. I remember it being a quiet day. Nobody seemed to utter a sound. Just low moans of shock and glazed-over looks. I remember picking up my best friend for lunch and we barely said two words to each other. We went to the Red Cross to donate blood, but there had already been such an overwhelming response that we were told to try back in a few days. I recall looking up at the sky and seeing our fighter jets proudly patrolling our country and it gave me a great sense of pride and hope. Mostly I remember feeling the bond with total strangers. Anyone you might've caught a glance with that day, that week, you knew they were feeling the deep hurt, the disbelief, the hope and will to go on, the American spirit, and all the memories that was 9-11-01.