story1883.xml

story1883.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-08

I had awakened and turned on the television, while preparing to leave for work in San Jose, and already, one plane had just hit the first World Trade Center. I thought to myself 'What a horrible tragic accident!'

As I was commuting on my train to San Jose, I was paged, and I knew that it was from my mother, probably wanting to let me know about the plane hitting the WTC. I returned her
call once I got into my office. And she asked if I had heard, and I said, yes, it's terrible. She then stunned me
with the news that both towers were down. I could't comprehend what she was saying. A second plane had slammed into the other tower,she said. I just still could not understand. I even said, that's impossible! How could those towers come down?! She kept repeating this a few times, til I realized the World Trade Centers were actually gone...

Afterward, I came out to discuss this with some of my coworkers, who had heard all of this already. I was shocked, and then remarked, what about the San Jose Airport, our building was directly under the final approach to the airport. You could look up and practically touch the planes approaching the runway. Of course, they then told me that all planes had been grounded in the United States. It then hit me, that this was a major event occurring in our lives.

My job at the time was as a customer service representative for a major utility company and I was working at its call center in San Jose, the calls just stopped coming in. Our customers' lives had also come to a standstill. Periodically, I would enter the break room and quietly watched the TV and all the unfolding horrors.

There then a company announcement to all of us that the FAA reported that one more jet airliner was making it's way to the San Jose Airport and to assure us that all
safety precautions were being taken; that this plane was being escorted by our Air Force. It was approaching in 20 minutes and that to be aware the situation was under control.

I had emailed a few co workers in other cities in Northern
California, and we basically formed a comfort zone with
our emails to each other. It helped us through a very long
sad workday.

My trip home on the train, was one of much reflection, heartbroken, and sad. Saying prayers to help those who were in desperate need of it, I just wanted to go home, be
with my family and wonder how in the world, when the sun rose again, were we to carry on...