September 11, 2001

As the popular Alan Jackson song goes... "Where were You when the World Stopped Turning, on that September Day?" I remember clearly, exactly where I was and what I was doing/wearing/feeling that day. September 11. A beautiful cloudless blue sky day. I was at work, 7 months pregnant with my first child, a son. If had on khaki capri's, black tee shirt and black platform sandals. I was sitting at my desk at M/A-COM where I worked as a graphic designer putting the pretties on the proposals that sell public safety systems and two way radios to counties/governments/locales, etc. I was excited about the impending birth of my first child, the sunny day, good friends, life. Then my friend, Lisa, made the announcement that a plane had flown into one of the World Trade Center buildings.

Shock, disbelief that it was even possible, and fear, all filled my being. Was it a plane off course? A sick joke by the media? Lots of possibilities crossed my mind, but not ONE of them at first was that it was an act of Terrorism. I mean, come on! We are the USA, safety reigns thanks to our troops. From that point, the morning just spun out of control. My hubby was still at home. I called him. He had seen the news. Just as we were digesting the first plane crash, the second one hit. By now, someone had a TV on. Standing room only. Now, it was clear, the USA was under attack. I remember feeling numb and scared. How could this happen? How could I be bringing a child into this world at this time?? What kind of world would he know growing up? Would it be the same one I grew up in, feeling safe and secure? How does a mother protect her child in this type of place we live? Oh, the questions that went thru my mind that day. I cried, everyone cried. Scared for all of us and how we would deal with this, and where it would lead to next.

We hear of the plane crash at the pentagon, then watch in horror as the twin towers fall. I cannot even imagine the terror the people in NY must have felt at that moment. The news is too hard to watch, yet we are glued to the TV. Lastly, we hear of the plane crash in the field in Pennsylvania. I remember sitting around the small TV we had watching in disbelief the horror unfolding minute by minute. It seemed as if each second brought something more horrible than the one before it. I felt like I was living in a dream, something I would wake up from to find it was all make believe. I didn't know what to make of it then, and looking back, I still don't. How can human beings be so cruel?

Then the questions started (mainly in my own head). How can I bring a child into this world? How could GOD let this horrible thing happen ( I have just realized the answer to this in the past year)? How will we, as a nation, deal with this and move forward? What about the people who lost a spouse, a child? The child that lost their parents? Oh, and then, being pregnant, all those pregnant women the news would talk to. The babies would never know their fathers. The fathers, their child. Awful. Well, here we are seven years later. I have realized that GOD put my child on earth for reason, right or wrong with the timing and that maybe, one day, my son (and daughter as well) will fulfill a special purpose, known only to GOD at the time he was given to me. He will do something great in his life on earth. I believe that. Maybe nothing big, but every person can make a change, no matter how small. He is proof that life goes on, good or bad. The fatherless children will no doubt be told of the heroism of their fathers when they are old enough to understand. They will do something great, in their memory. GOD did not allow this to happen. People did. People who don't believe in my GOD. God was with all those people the day they died, and remains with the ones left behind. HE got us thru the days that followed. He brought a nation together in a way I never thought I would witness. HE cried with us that day. I am sure of that.


I could write a book on this subject, but I won't. Here is a poem that was sent to me in an email. I will leave you with this. I thought it was remarkable.

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news
On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan . I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments. God