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#2450 | Thursday, September 12th 2002
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At home, startled by an early morning phone call. A call that was to result in complete shock, panic and horror. My family - the entire world as I had known were all devastated. The Twin Towers hit by planes, on fire and now before our eyes imploding!
My husband has brothers on the floor of the exchange, My cousin works in a near by Bldg. My friends and family who are FDNY & NYPD workers - God almighty are they alive?
My daughter barely 4 months old, will she ever know some of these people? My God what if it was nuclear? We would have lost all of those we love, as they all live and work with in a 50 mile radius of the great big apple. Who did this and are you coming near me? I need to protect my daughter& my husband it is my nature. I need to fight for their lives and pray for all of the others. TRAPPED as I am 3000 miles away... I cannot help put out the flames, the fears or dig in the rubble to get to those still alive.... please let there be some life left in there. I am hopelessly watching, trying to find a ray of hope for those lost........
How will these families go on? Please let this be a nightmare! I never want to hear the phone ring again - God I hope the phone rings telling me all of my loved ones are alright. I am and always will be a New Yorker I just live some where else now............. 911 now has a whole new meaning! It is the day we lost the most precious thing of all - Human Life at the hands of a human Animal.
For the spur of the moment these are my recollections, for one more thought. I wish no one had been there - Where was I? Thank you for letting me vent, thank you for giving others a chance to reflect.
For my daughter and family to follow - May you live to see a brighter tomorrow.
Lisa 9/12/02
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Lisa | 34 | California
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#2419 | Thursday, September 12th 2002
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It was only the second week of school for my daughters. They are fraternal triplets, and had just started kindergarten.
Normally, I would have already left for my day as a teacher, but I was on maternity leave. We were in the middle of the morning rush. My not quite 1 month old daughter was sleeping in her crib. My mother called,and told me to turn on the news, that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I could not take my eyes of the sight. Then, the second plane hit. All the way to school, I had the radio on.
Unfortunately, I was so glued to the events, I didn't realize that my children were also listening. Usually they paid no attention to the radio, but that morning, one of them noticed the talk of people jumping from the building. She couldn't understand.
Everyone probably has an image, memory, or piece that will stick with them forever. I will always remember the heroism of the people that thwarted the 4th plane from hitting its target. I am sure I am not alone when I say that "let's roll!" will now have a more significant meaning. An image of bravery.
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Kimberly | 34 | California
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#2388 | Wednesday, September 11th 2002
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September 11, 2001 -- Just like any other day, my husband went to school in Northern KY where he was teaching high school Chemistry & Biology & I went to work in the Radiology Dept at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Hospital. I went through my usual routine when I arrived at the office at 8:00 a.m. - turn on computer, check voice mail, check the fax and printers up the hall, etc. I pass the waiting room many times each day & always glance into the room to see what the TV is tuned to. As I went into the main hallway a while later, I noticed that employees were congregating in the hallway just outside the waiting room & when I walked by the waiting room I saw Katie Couric going over the footage of the 1st plane. Patient families relayed the info that a small plane had hit the WTC. Short while later the 2nd plane hit. We began relaying info to others in dept that could not get to TV. A short while later my husband called me from his classroom after the news was broadcast at the high school. This is when I knew something was seriously wrong and realized this event directly affected our lives. His daughter & grandchildren (ages 10 & 3 at the time)live in Houston but were in Portugal visiting the in-laws & due back to the states any time. He was so worried that he stopped in the middle of his class & called me to see if I could get in touch with his other daughter in Houston to find out when everyone was due back. All we knew was that they were returning to Houston sometime 9/10 or 9/11 & they usually connect through Newark or JFK, sometimes through Boston. So we did not know if they were on one of the affected planes or not. Of course since we were both at work we did not have any family phone #s with us & did some frantic searching on the internet to find phone #s for his daughter & ex-wife. I finally found the home #s for both & was frustrated when I had to leave messages on answering machines for both. Fortunately the ex-wife checked her machine from the office, picked up my message & called me at the office. She told me they were due into Newark around noon 9/11 & she had been trying to locate their flight itinerary. She made some calls & found the flight #'s, etc. so we could attempt to find out where their flight was diverted to since they were already in the air when this happened. We were on pins & needles all day with no success in locating the kids. We received a message from the ex-wife while on way home from work that the kids had finally called her & they were in Bermuda. They said the pilot had come over the intercom during the flight to let them know that all the US airports were closed due to terrorist attacks & they would have to find somewhere to land or turn back to Portugal. It was decided to attempt to land in Bermuda as it was the closest airport at the time. We were so relieved to find out where they were. They wound up spending 9/11 & 9/12 at a resort in Bermuda at the expense of the airline. They were finally flown into Newark late 9/13 & then airline told them they did not know when they could get the family on a flight to Houston but it would be at least a coule of days & told them they were on their own regarding lodging in NY until they were put on a flight. The granddaughter's birthday is 9/15 & all she wanted to do was get home. There were few rental cars available in the area, with virtually none for a one-way trip. The family friend they were travelling with owns an auto repair shop in Houston & finally called in a bunch of favors in order to get them a rental car so they could drive from NY to Houston. They left NY early afternoon 9/14 & drove straight trhough to our house in Amelia, arriving approx 11:30 p.m. We packed the kids off to bed after grandson relayed the sights of flying over the WTC site when they got to NY. I got up at 7:30 Sat morning to go to store to buy cereal for the kids & birthday cake for granddaughter. You should have seen her face when she woke up & saw the presents & cake on the breakfast table. Needless to say, we had breakfast finished pretty quick so we could do presents & cake before they hit the road for the long drive to Houston. It's hard to believe that it has been a year ago already. It seems just like yesterday that we were scrambling to find the kids & make sure their plane was not one of the ones crashed. Now we carry their phone #s with us & have the kids send us their complete travel itinerary with flight #, time, airport, etc. so we never have to go through this again. I don't think the kids will ever forget flying over Ground Zero. The grandson still talks about the devastation he saw & said it really did not register with them until they flew into Newark a few days later.
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P | 34 | Ohio
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#2327 | Wednesday, September 11th 2002
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We will never forget this day. A day that changed the way many americans look at the world. I will Never forget the fear,anger and pain. We cannot forget this day!
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Brenda | 34 | Washington
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#2162 | Wednesday, September 11th 2002
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I remember sitting on the couch flipping thru channels to find cartoons for my 5 year old daughter, when I saw the first tower on fire. I left it there, wondering what had happened. Then, with my daughter sitting next to me, I saw the second plane hit, and I was immediately sick.
I proceeded to spend the day crying for all those who were lost, and trying to explain to my children, what had happened, and how someone could have so little value for human life that he would plan such a tragedy.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who were lost.
May God Bless you, and MAY GOD BLESS THE USA
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Jennifer | 34 | Connecticut
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