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September 11, 2004
Three Years Ago Today.....
It is so hard to believe that it's been three years since the world stopped turning. In so many ways it feels like that horrible day was just yesterday. Three years ago, on Sept 11th, I was on my way to my social work internship when I first heard that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. I was listening to "The Steve and DC Radio show" and when they first said what was happening, they actually laughed because they thought it was a joke. Needless to say, the laughter stopped almost immediately when they realized it wasn't a joke after all. Soon after, the station switched to CBS news radio for the continuing and extensive coverage.
Immediately, I started to think about and worry about my husband. On Sept 11th, he was to fly from the St Louis Airport to Washington DC for a week long trip for work. His flight was that morning and I had no idea if he had already gotten onto the plane before they announced they were stopping future flights. I had no idea how to get a hold of him and was pretty much in a panic state. Especially once I arrived at my internship and heard the horrible news that a plane crashed into The Pentagon in Washington DC. I was so fearful that something would happen to Kevin's plane as well since it was headed for Washington DC. At the time I was 3 months pregnant with our first child, Nathan. Once they announced all flights were canceled, my co-workers tried to console me and told me that he was probably just stuck at the airport and probably trying to get a hold of me.
That day, my work agenda was to go with a fellow case manager to St Louis. We were taking a couple of our disabled clients to St Louis to enjoy some of the sites. It was actually a big day for our department and our clients. One of the clients we were taking with us had never been to St Louis and very recently had left her home for the first time in decades. She suffered from many social phobias. So this outing and day was a big deal for her! We decided to go ahead and stick with the plan and I was just hoping that somehow I would hear from Kevin at some point during the day. Luckily, my husband made his way to my internship to see if he could get a hold of me to tell me he was okay. They called my co-workers cell phone as we were headed to downtown St Louis so that he could tell me he was ok. I was so relieved and felt so fortunate that Kevin's flight was canceled and he was not going anywhere that week. Needless to say, we bought cell phones very soon after that experience since we had so much trouble getting a hold of one another.
The whole day my coworker and I tried to act as upbeat as possible so the day wouldn't be ruined for our clients. For the most part, neither one of them had any idea what was going on due to their mental disabilities. Basically in between going places, we tried to get as much information as possible through the radio. I couldn't wait for the day to end so Kevin and I would be together. My night class ended up being canceled for obvious reasons. There was no way people could concentrate in a class and there was no way the professor could have lectured like it was a normal day.
For months on end, I was glued to the television and shed many tears for all the innocent lives lost. My heart breaks for the thousands, if not millions, of people whose lives were destroyed that day. It breaks my heart to think about all the children who lost mommies or daddies that day. It is so unimaginable and unfair. My heart breaks for all those who lost spouses, friends, sons, daughters, and relatives. It seems so unreal and yet it is real. I can't imagine how hard this day is for so many people. Without a doubt, on Sept 11th we all found out the true definition of what a hero is. Today and always, I will remember all those who lost their lives trying to save and help other people.
I remember watching a documentary with my husband on MSNBC about some of the lives that were affected by Sept 11th. One of the lives lost that horrible day was of an 11 year old boy. He looked a lot like a little Michael Jordan, to give you a better picture of this precious little boy. This little boy was on the plane that hit The Pentagon. He was on his way to a school competition that he had been selected for because of his excellence in school. It was his first and last flight. He had no family with him that horrible day, only school officials. I can't imagine how scared this little boy was without family and to think he lost his life because he was being recognized for excellence in school. It is so unfair and heartbreaking. What makes this story even more gut wrenching is that his father was working his normal job on Sept 11th, in The Pentagon. His father lost many close friends that day and his son died in the plane that crashed into his building. To say my husband and I were in complete shock and disbelief is an understatement.
I can not even begin to imagine the pain he will always suffer. I wept for a long time thinking of his heartbreak. That little boys face and story will literally be with me forever.
God Bless all of those whose lives were destroyed three years ago
today....
Let us ALL NEVER FORGET that horrible day and all the beautiful people we lost.
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