Today is 9/11.  I can't believe it has been 5 years.  I have been trying not to think about it but it is everywhere.  The news, the radio, and at school.  We will have a moment of silence a 8:46am. 

I worked for USAirways at the time.  I had to call in at 9:00am to see if there would be any VTO (voluntary time off) for the day.  CJ got me up just before 9 (I worked 3:30pm - Mid).  I got on the computer (we had a phone set up through it).  I saw the picture of the first tower burning and thought someone was remaking King Kong.  CJ said "Read the caption!" and took off for the livingroom and the news on TV. 

Since we thought it was a bombing, I called in and new right away something was wrong.  The woman that answered the phone was very preocupied and shouted 'wait a minute'.  I heard her saying to someone else that she heard it was an Airbus.  I went cold.  I asked if there was any VTO and she hesitated then said no.  I hung up.

CJ hollered from downstairs to come watch.  As I sat down on the couch, the other plane hit.  I said "Oh, my God there were people on that plane."  CJ said "There were people in that building."

We watched for a few minutes trying to soak it in then I tore up the stairs back to the computer.  I got on my Airline message board and started posting to find out what anyone had heard.  It was still going on and everyone was confused and shocked.  CJ was hollering up that the capital building was in trouble and the Pentagon had been hit too.

I called my mom to see if she knew anything.  She hadn't even heard yet. 

I called back into work and this time asked if there was any OT.  I was told yes, all day.  I said I would be in ASAP. 

I was sure one of the planes was ours.  Especially after the plane crashed in PA.  At the time one of USAirways big hubs was Pittsburgh. 

I left for work still not knowing if any of those planes was a US flight.  I stopped at Wal-mart to get a personal radio and batteries.  I picked up a few other things thinking I might be working all night.

When I got in to work everything was quiet.  People were still glued to TVs and Radio.  They new the flights were grounded and there was no urgent need to call in.  I worked from about 12noon to 9:00pm.  They sent us home because we were getting no calls.

The weirdest thing for me over the next few weeks was standing outside and seeing no Con trails in the sky.  I had spent my life being aware of planes and looking for them (my dad also worked in conjunction with the airlines - we flew all the time and I was born in Puerto Rico so I was practiclly born flying).

I went to JH and HS on Long Island.  I was sure I knew someone involved in this tragedy. 

Using 9/11 and the severe set back to airlines, UsAirways  leaders did something they had previously been hoping to do over a long period of time.  They closed 4 of our offices.  We were told at the beginning of Oct.  We were given 6 days to decide if we wanted to transfer to one of the 3 remaining offices and then 2 weeks to report to our new stations.  I was at my new station and working on 10/21/01.  

My family could not join me until 12/23/01. 

We now live in North Carolina and I am out of the airline business and reservations.  I am a teacher and very happy. 

God wanted us here and it took a huge tragedy to get us here.  It is so strange to think that so much good has come from such an awful thing.  God did not cause the tragedy but He is most certainly here for the people that need Him becuase of it.