story10963.xml

story10963.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-09-12

I was on vacation in Houston, with my best friend and her family, while my husband and three sons were home in Akron, OH. On the morning of September 11th, I was awakenend by the phone ringing. I heard my friend and her daughter talking, and thought well, I might as well get up and have some coffee with them. My bedroom door opened into the living room, which at the end of was a big screen tv. Never will I forget the picture that was on of the first tower that had been hit, burning. Dumbly I stood looking and managed to croak out, "what the heck is that ?" My friend replied, "the WTC has been hit". My only thought was oh god not again. As I sunk into a chair trying to digest this scene, my friends daughter handed me a cup of coffee, and the annoucement came that a second plane had hit the other tower. The first of many sets of chills ran through me, as I realized this was no accident or random event. Shortly there after came the news of a plane crashing in Pennsylvania, and then the announcement of the plane crashing into the Pentagone. Things are a bit of a blur, but I do remember hearing comments around the room, like Oh my God, this isnt happaning, what is going on, and for the first time of many, we are under attack. My friends brother worked for the Houston based Canter Fitzgerald office, and some how had gotten the task of trying to communicate with Canter Fitzgerald employes in the Tower, via cell phones. He was trying to find locations of employes or what ever information he could get to relay to authorities in New York to get them help. When the tower that contained the Canter Fitzgerald offices fell, he called my friend sobbing saying "it's down, I was on the phone with an employee and you could hear people yelling and things crashing and then nothing". I do remember a chilling silence filling the living room then as we all stared at the tv, tears spilling silently and unchecked, seeing and knowing but still not quite comprehending the enormity of the violence unfolding in front of us. Two other events stand out in my mind that day. At some point there was news about the plane crashing in Pennsylvania. They showed its flight path and that it diverted over Ohio, and it appeared to me that it had flown over Akron. I called home to hear my childrens voices, and to my husband whom was at work and not aware of this days events. I told them all they were loved and not to leave each others sides. I cant get through this without crying even though its been 3 years now. The second event that sticks with me was when all flights were grounded. My friend lives like 2 blocks from Hobby Airport. First you noted the silence, and then later as we left to run to the store, you saw a concrete confirmation , as planes were sitting all over the tarmacs, like some childs scattered toys. Later when the first flights were allowed out, we were at the store and one flew over the parking lot. About 20 people were in the parking lot, and every head looked up. I can't speak for the others as to their thoughts for that moment, but I can't help but wonder if their's were the same as mine, Oh god please dont let this happen again, and haaaa take that you damn terrorists, you cant keep us down. I flew home a few days later, having not slept in 24 hours, bordering on severe panick attacks, to arrive in the airport in Akron Canton. At that moment all the events of the last week crashed into me, and as I met my family beyond the security check as they were no long allowed to meet me at the gate, I was sobbing. I grabbed them all, and held them so tight and kept saying I love you. To those who lost a loved one that day, my thoughts and prayers are with you. To the police and firefighters, and unsung heroes, who were just doing their job that day, my deepest thank's and respect.