Reply #4: I was on my way to college [View All]

[October]

I'm the mother of two children, and I had just returned to college that September, 2001. It was the 2nd week of school and I was driving to campus.

My husband is an airline pilot, and I'm a former flight attendant. I couldn't believe the reports I was hearing on the radio that morning about a plane hitting the tower. We live about an hour from NY, so while I was driving, I just looked up at the sky and thought "WHAT???" "On a day like today?" It made no sense! The weather was perfectly clear. Then, the news of the 2nd plane hitting the 2nd tower came on the radio and of course I knew we'd been attacked. Later, when I learned the planes had been hijacked, I knew those passengers and crew on those planes were following the normal "go along with the hijacker and make nice" rules and I was struggling with the thought that they all probably went quietly and obediently to their deaths. The unsuspecting pilots, strapped in and unable to defend themselves, were probably swiftly killed. I was horrified, like everyone else. My husband had flown home an hour earlier. I knew he was safe, but I had to call our relatives to let them know.

It seemed surreal when the towers "fell." All the pilots used those towers as a visual -- it meant "home" to many pilots when they came into view.

One of the first things I said to another student was "OMG, we're under attack and Bush is in charge!!!" I was not like "most people" who seemed to instantly rally round the president, wave the flag, etc. Instead I was instantly sick to my stomach at the thought of this happening on GWB's watch. I felt we were doomed, but I had no idea that doom would come from within our own government.

Since then, every day brings new outrage. I'm appalled at what our country has become.