September 11, 2001 was one of the most tragic days in American history. A day when time seemed to stand still, in a moment so surreal, on a day when hundreds of Americans lost there lives.
Everyone has a 9/11 story and this is mine.
Just 15 years old and a sophomore at Long Beach High school I awoke at a time that seemed too early for the day to begin. What I thought would remain just another mundane school day, would soon turn into a true life nightmare.
The sky so blue and the sun sitting low on the horizon, I took the bus to school and the day began.
Once able to see the World Trade Center buildings across the bay into the city, I took the distanced skyline for granted, included September 11, when a classmate told me to look toward the window where smoke was billowing from the first building struck.
In a rush to my next class I responded, “Oh, it’s probably nothing.”
As the hours wore on students suspected something was wrong, but the administration withheld information about the goings on in the city.
Despite our lack of information, rumors began pouring through the halls; too many students were picked up by their parents in the middle of the day and all after-school activities were canceled. Everyone was concerned.
Finally able to leave school, with a somewhat early dismissal, I took the bus home, turned on the news and was slammed with men, women, and children running for their lives away from the burning building of the World Trade Center as the NYPD and FDNY continued to risk their lives and ran in.
My concern was for my mother who worked as a teacher in Corona Queens. However, I would later learn, when listening to phone messages, my father was in Manhattan this particular day for a meeting.
Late that night when my mother and father arrived home to find Chris, my brother, and I glued to the television set, I would learn about my dad’s stroke of luck.
What I had not known was my dad had a scheduled appointment at a World Trade Center building on one of the top floors.
This is his story:
My dad woke up past the time set on his alarm, which I don’t think he’s done before or since that day, and caught a later train.
As the passengers approached the city an announcement was made. No more trains would be going in or out of Manhattan for the remainder of the day because of an attack on the World Trade Center.
He was shocked. Waking up late this morning has saved his life.
Briskly talking with fellow riders he also learned a man sitting to his side, who worked at the World Trade Center, could have also died this day. However, the surf was too perfect and he chose to hit the beach before heading in.
Finally arriving to Manhattan my dad walked miles up miles to Corona Queens to meet my mom and get a ride home.
Many lives were saved that day. Chance, luck, or maybe God had intervened.
Many lives were lost that day - unexpectedly, undeservingly. But they will always be remembered, never forgotten - just as that day, which seems like yesterday
To share your 9-11 experience or thoughts, go to www.EmpowHer.com/share.