story5656.xml

story5656.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

My September 11th began by performing some small tasks around the neuroscience lab I work in at Indiana University. I had just completed my work for the morning when I overheard someone saying there was a fire at the Pentagon. Not really understanding fully what this meant, I left the building for my first class of the day. As I made my way to class I had to pass through the student union building. Inside, I could hardly believe the number of people huddled around two free-standing televisions in a popular study area. Just after someone told me what happened, the first tower crumbled to the ground. I can only say I was shocked. I remember making my way to class, but not really being present in mind. After I got back to the union, I heard about the plane crashing outside of Pittsburgh. That is the point at which I became an emotional mess on that day. My parents live outside of Pittsburgh, and the news was not specific as to how far from Pittsburgh the plane crashed. After making frantic phone calls to my father at work (I found out later he was sent home), and being unable to get through to my mother and sister, I made my way to my apartment. The lab I had that afternoon was of no concern. Phone call after phone call was left until I finally reached the answering machine for a quick, teary message. At this point I was worrying about all of the people I know who could have been hurt. A friend was doing an internship in DC and another friend's father works in Manhattan not far from the WTC. My cousin who is a flight attendant for United and who used to be based out of Boston. My uncle and cousin in Boston who fly all the time for business. My aunt who travels to and from California for seminars often. After tallying these people, I promptly ran to the bathroom to 'pray to the porcelain god.' So many loved ones could be hurt, and there was nothing I could do. To say it will be a day I never forget would be an understatement. And it should be a day no one forgets. The fact that these people I have listed COULD have been killed is what made this horrible event even more jarring. From that day forth my awareness of just how easily loved ones can be taken from us increased exponentially. To me the lasting message is to reach out and tell your loved ones that you care about them in words and actions NOW, before life's fragile walls crumble around you.