Like most people, I have many things burned into my memory of 9/11. I work for a major US airline and I arrived early that day in hopes of finishing a special project I was doing. It was basically data entry and I spent my time entering the information while listening to music through my earphones. As coworkers arrived, we exchanged greetings.
I remember noticing a change in the air. I poked my head out of my cubicle and noticed people gathered around another cubicle down the hall. I walked there to see what was going on. I learned a plane crashed into one of the Twin Towers. I instantly thought of a B25 that crashed into the Empire State Building many years ago. We wondered how this could have happened since we understood the weather was clear. (Let me note here that no one in our office had a television. Some people had radios and that was the only news source we had.)
We all speculated some more and various coworkers came and went and eventually I returned to my cubicle. A short time later I heard murmuring above the music in my headphones. Again, I walked down to learn the news. A second plane hit the other tower. We all instantly knew the first was not an accident. Of course, a short time later, another plane crashed into the Pentagon. By this time, it was reported the airlines and aircraft types of the planes used. We couldn't help but think that the company names, Amercian and United, played a roll in planning of this plot.
I wanted to work on my project but the desire to know what was happening pulled me into various cubicles to hear the latest. I remember hearing of a plane that flew over the Capitol. Would it come back and crash into it or the White House?
For me, the most vivid memory was sitting in Mark's office, which was across from mine, and listening to the reports on the radio. Suddenly, the announcer exclaimed the second tower to be struck was falling. He used the description that is was falling like dominoes. Mark and I gaped at each other, unable to comprehend what we were hearing. How was it falling? Like a domino? Was it tipping over and crashing onto other buildings? How many people were still the building? Could anyone survive?
Of course, we heard about a plane heading toward Washington, DC that Air Traffic Control couldn't contact. Then it crashed. The other tower collapsed. Bewilderment permeated the whole office. Since I worked just up to the hall to where I currently work, I heard of our CEO and other executives rushing up the hall to stay abreast of the events.
Sometime around noon, our director pulled us all together and told us what she knew. Also, if we felt compelled to leave for the day we could. I had a burning desire to get my kids out of school. They had heard something happened but didn't completely understand it all. I was anxious to get home and watch the news reports. Like everyone else, I was filled with horror.
I remember the awe of not seeing an airplane in the sky. I remember wondering what would happen to the airline industry. Would my company survive? My job?
Each year, memories of that day flood my mind and heart. Anyone who works in the airline industry will tell you it gets in your blood. I am happy to still have it in my veins. Though my office it normally too far, I still like the smell of jet exhaust when it blows my way. I am happy 9/11 didn't stop the turbines from spinning.
#remember9/11
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