story3175.xml

story3175.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was on my way to work. I work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I was listening to K-love, christian music station. I had just dropped of my kids at school. One at elementary, and one at middle school. They had announced that the "New York Trade Center" had been hit by a plane. They did not know why at the time. They said on the radio that it may have just been an accident, but that the skys were clear, so they were not sure how that would have happened. I was scared, so I called home. I talked to my 17 year old and told him what I had heard. I asked him if he was watching the news. At that point he turned it on. He said, "Mom it was not an accident, we are being attacked."
A few minutes later, another plane had crashed. The radio announcers changed their tune. Now they said that we were probably being hit by terrorist. My son was right. I called home again and talked to my husband. But then went ahead and went to work. The thoughts that were going on through my mind, was that they were talking about this at school. I was hoping not. I was worried that my 7 year old would be scared. I hoped that the adults were not making too much fuss in front of the kids. On the other hand, I knew that the kids in Middle School were probably filled with excitement, and were not too scared.
I got to work, but there was not much work being done that day. Every one was watching TV. Were were listening and waiting, and hoping for the end. Another plane went down at the pentegon. I grew more concerned. St. Jude is international, so I started really getting uncomfortable. I thought, "They are gonna get places that have people from all over the world". I wanted to go home. I waited a while. Still watched TV and listened. A plane went down in Pennsylvania. I thought, "My gosh, that is enough, and I am going home." I was so scared that something would happen in Memphis and I would not be able to make it home. All I could think about were my kids. I had to make it home.
I thought about all the kids who had parents that morning that went to work and were not coming home that night. It astonished me that all through the day, and after, that the kids were not mentioned much. It was so sad. That is all I could think about. All those kids that were not going to have a parent that night. I didn't sleep good for several days. I still wonder about the kids. How are they, and who is taking care of them? No one says. I don't get that part.
Another thing that I really thought about that day was, the fact that I work at St. Jude. We take care of people and work with people from all over the world. This makes it a real special place to be. We all get along so well. We grow to love each other, and care for one another. It's a feeling I can't describe to be among people here of so many different nationalities. I don't even speak the language of some of them, but a smile means the same to everyone. And that is good, because I smile alot. I don't know how any one would want to hurt people the way the terrorist did that day. We should all love each other. God made every color, size and shape. And this day, more than other day, should remind us all of that.

robin.grant@stjude.org