Remembering 9/11

I can't believe that Friday, 9/11/2009 will be 8 years since we were attacked! It feels like it was just yesterday. I had just moved to Virginia (the 1st) time 3 weeks before it happened and it was one of the worst feelings I have ever had. I went to work like an usual day and about 20 or so minutes after I go there, everyone was talking and screaming about what had just happened. I will admit, I had no idea what the World Trade Center was or it's significance. I stopped to watch myself and I was in disbelief at what I saw. I was immediately told to go home and stay home. That I should stop for gas, any food items I would need because we had no idea what would come the next few days. On my way home I freaked out and started to think, OMG, CA is next! I tried calling my parents and all the lines were busy...something I had never experienced before. I knew that my Mom was very scared and worried and I just wanted to be able to reach her to reassure her I was ok. I finally got home and was able to finally get through to my parents. They were relieved but yet very scared about what was to come. All I wanted to do was to go back home to CA! Obviously this was not possibe as I was in no way getting on a plane or any other ground transportation other than my car. They were F-14's flying over my house and I just felt so uneasy and out of control. I was so afraid that something would happen and I would never see my family again. After a few days, things started to settle down and we resumed our everyday activities. Even though things had settled, I still felt uneasy about living in VA/DC and that we would be next since they did attack the Pentagon.

I learned to work through my fear to where I could go about things without living in contstant fear that something was going to happen.

In Feb of 02 I decided to re-pursue my career as a Flight Attendant with United Express. I have never been afraid to Fly or had any fears while on a flight that I was working until this point. I was a single Flight Attendant on a flight that was headed to NYC. I'm not one to judge somebody, but this time I did because of 9/11! When passengers are boarding a plane it's hard to pain attention and notice every single person. This particular plane that I was working this time put me in the midst of the passengers upon takeoff. My jumpseat (where flight attendant's sit) was pratically in the aisle right next to passengers. We are not suppose to talk to anyone upon takeoff or landing. Well this one guy insisted on talking to me. I looked up, and he was wearing dark sunglasses and was of some middle easter descent and I just had this horrible feeling that something wasn't right about him. He kept asking me about this flight school he had just finished in Florida...same place where the hijackers from 9/11 went. Red light immediately came on. He looked like one of the them. I was terrified and just knew something bad was going to happen. I told him that I could not talk to him while we were taking off unless it was an emergency. He shut up finally but then I noticed him talking to the men he was traveling with who looked just like him. I knew that if something was going to happen to bring our plane down, that it was my time to go. This was a scary reality for me and it was the scariest flight I have ever worked. Someone was watching over us and about 1 hr and 30 mins later, we safely landed in NYC. I reported to the pilots what I had seen and how uncomfortable I was and they became concerned as well and reported it to TSA/airport police to in watch of these men and to stay on high alert.

This was not the end of my day and it took everything in me to get back on the plane I was about to work. From all of this I learned that I had accept the dangers of this job and that I was at peace with it because I was doing what I truly loved and was passionate about.

A few months after this experience, I decided to resign from United Express because the pressure of being the only Flight Attendant was too much for me to handle. Four years late, I was employed my Alaska Airlines and then United until I moved to Virginia and met my wonderful husband. I miss flying everyday but I am content with my life.

My heart goes out to all those families who lost loved ones on 9/11 and especially to those Pilots and Flight Attendant for their courage and dedication who sadly had to be the ones faced with these hijackers and what they were about to face...these are true heros!

"In God We Trust"