Although my family's story from Sept. 11, 2001 does not involve a fatality, it does involve the most fear I have ever felt in my life.
That morning, around 6 a.m. Arizona time, my mom received a call from my dad, who was on business in New York. He told her that something terrible had happened but he was OK. The conversation did not contain much detail because his cell phone signal was weak and fading. For the next three hours, as we watched people on television running and screaming in the streets of New York, we did not hear from my father. All I could think about as I watched television was "Did my dad have to run? Was he scared?" To me, my dad is and always will be the strongest person I know, and to think for a second that he felt frightened or threatened, was the most uncomfortable feeling I'd ever had.
Finally, my dad called to tell us that he was safe in Brooklyn and was trying his hardest to find a way home. My dad was in New York for his company's quarterly meeting. This meeting is always held on the 55th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center, and my father always stays at the World Trade Center Marriot. However, the meeting held that day was changed at the last minute to be held in a larger conference room across the river in Brooklyn.
During his meeting my dad was evacuated and he then walked to a nearby park where he watched the towers collapse. The next day he drove to Columbus, Ohio, in a rental car and caught the only plane available to Phoenix where he returned to us on Sept. 13.
My dad was safe from harm the entire time. My family is very lucky for this. However, we are a very close-knit family and not having our dad home at such a vulnerable time was so scary for us. I try not to play the "What if" game, but it is hard not to think "What if the number of people attending the meeting wasn't too big to fit in the WTC conference room and my dad had been there." I've thought about this a million times in the past year.
When I hear about the effects of Sept. 11, 2001, it brings back memories of fear – a fear that I know many felt on that day. This year, as I remember those who did lose their lives in the horrible events, I will also be thankful that my dad is safe and my family is together.
