story297.xml

story297.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-03-22

Hardin Simmons University was inaugarating a new President. We had the day off from class so everyone could attend the ceremonies. Mr roomoate had to get up early to pick up his uncle at the airport because he was on the Board of the Trustees and had flown his private plane in from the Metroplex. When my roommate got back he told me about the airliners flying into the towers and that all flights had been grounded. His uncle had made it here. We turned on the TV as I continued to get dressed and had to leave just after the towers collapsed. I was in complete shock and thought I was watching a movie.
I have a best friend back home that works for the Attorney General in New Mexico. I called him to see if he knew but he did not answer his cell phone. I left a message giving a basic summary of the planes and then the towers collapsing and hung up. Later he told me that he got the message soon afterward and a few moments later his mom called. He thought I was joking but when his mom said the exact same thing he was also astonished.
Since classes were cancelled I stayed close to the TV and watched every update and the events of the rest of the day.