story5283.xml
Title
story5283.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
Being on the West Coast I started out my day amid the utter devistation that became September 11, 2001. I answered my front door at about 6:15AM to let in my neighbor's children, just like every morning. I went to the television to turn on cartoons for them, along with my two children, just like every morning. It was at that moment my life changed. Both towers had been struck by that time and I ran into the bedroom to wake up my husband. I was shocked, amazed, terrified and as I watched, The Pentagon was struck. I called my father who was still sleeping, "wake up and turn on the TV", that's all I had to say. We ended the phone call with an I love you, we were safe as all of our family is here in Southern California. I continued to watch the horror unfold as the plane went down in Pennsylvania. I decided that I was keeping the kids home from school. I was scared. My boss called and said DO NOT go into LA today for any appointments. He called again after the first building collapsed to inform me that our company had been closed for the day. "Stay home with your family where you belong". I think it was 8:00 or 9:00AM by that time, and frankly, I was still in my robe with no intention of working.
Time ultimately stood still. I felt so helpless, so guilty for being safe and for not experiencing the loss that so many fellow Americans suffered. Today I know that I did suffer a loss, the loss of invincibility, the loss of security and the loss of people who died that I did not know but became part of me, part of America. Today I also know that much was gained. I am thankful to all of the firefighters, the police, the emergency personnel, and to the people who lost their lives, and to their families. I am thankful to them for the gift they gave. Within the terror our country formed a unified heart, a renewed love for mankind and a vigor for life as I've never experienced. If it weren't for those who gave their lives, and their families who continue to persevere we wouldn't be as great a nation of brotherhood as we are today.
Thank You.
In Brotherhood,
Jennifer Stewart
Corona, California
Time ultimately stood still. I felt so helpless, so guilty for being safe and for not experiencing the loss that so many fellow Americans suffered. Today I know that I did suffer a loss, the loss of invincibility, the loss of security and the loss of people who died that I did not know but became part of me, part of America. Today I also know that much was gained. I am thankful to all of the firefighters, the police, the emergency personnel, and to the people who lost their lives, and to their families. I am thankful to them for the gift they gave. Within the terror our country formed a unified heart, a renewed love for mankind and a vigor for life as I've never experienced. If it weren't for those who gave their lives, and their families who continue to persevere we wouldn't be as great a nation of brotherhood as we are today.
Thank You.
In Brotherhood,
Jennifer Stewart
Corona, California
Collection
Citation
“story5283.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 23, 2025, https://www.911digitalarchive.org/items/show/8543.