Tuesday, September 11, 2001, started like every other weekday – I kissed my husband good morning, reluctantly rolled out of bed, and got ready for the day. This particular day, I didn’t have to work until mid-morning so after my husband went to work at 8:30, I turned off Good Morning America and started studying for a quiz I had later that day in class. I was interrupted by the sound of an “instant message” coming from the computer room. Eager for a study break, I got up to see who it was. It was my husband simply stating, “turn on the TV”. I remember being annoyed at his vagueness and quickly replied, “what channel?”. Before he could respond, I recieved an email from my mother saying a plane had crashed into the WTC.

I quickly returned to the living room and turned on the T.V. It didn’t matter what channel I had on as every local station was covering the event. I sat there in my living room, alone, and watched the events unfold. Once I heard of the attack on the Pentagon, I remember looking both ways out each window on either side of the house as if something were going to happen right outside. It felt like it could since our country seemed to be under attack. I remember thinking, “what’s next??” and wishing I was with my husband. Next, I recall both scenes being covered on the T.V screen – the Pentagon and the WTC and witnessing a lot of commotion and smoke. The news broadcaster noticed it too and tuned to his affiliate in NY and asked, “what is happening?” Then it was revealed that Tower 1 was collapsing. I put my hand over my mouth and just stood there. I couldn’t move. After the 2nd tower collapsed, I remember foolishly thinking/convincing myself that those in Tower 2 had time to get out – “Tell me those people started evacuating after the first crash in Tower 1!” I watched the news until I had to go to work, and while there, listened to the radio all day.

Class was cancelled, so after work, my husband and I went to church and prayed with our community for our Country and our world. What started as a typical, ordinary Tuesday changed the world, an entire Nation, and me.