When I woke up this morning I felt a pain in my stomach, kind of like the one I had on 9/11/01. I thought, “oh no, not again”.

 

As I lay in my bed thinking back 7 years ago today, I remember the horrible pain I had due to my ulcer. Not like the normal pain it had usually given me, but an incredible, intense pain like an extremely sharp knife was inside just turning and twisting. I remember asking God to take the pain. When I was finally able to sit up, the pain continued and I continued to pray for the Lord to take the pain away.   I hopped in the shower and thought, “everything is going to be ok”. 

 

After I got ready for work, I went to the kitchen and made myself some Chamomile tea since I knew that always helped settle my ulcer. I got in the car and as I started to drive the pain got MORE intense and I drank the tea slowly, but the pain continued to intensify. I remember hunching over holding the steering wheel crying and begging for the pain to go away. I made it to the Vanguard Group (where I used to work) and barely made it to my desk. I went to the ladies room to see if I was going to be sick but nothing happened, just constant pain. I made it back to my desk and just put my head down holding my stomach. I was so afraid my boss was going to come in and be like, “what are you doing”? However a friend of mine came in and she saw me and asked if I was ok. I asked her for Tums or Pepto and she went to her desk and got some. I took it and continued to keep my head down on the desk since I couldn’t sit up in a straight up position.

 

Around 8:45 one of the guys in my department came running in and said “Hey everyone, a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center”! Suddenly my pain got worse than before and I thought, “oh no, this isn’t good”. A few minutes later he asked a couple of us if we wanted to go in his SUV and watch the news on TV. I made it to his van and got in the back seat with another girl and just watched in horror of what was going on. Shortly after that, I saw the 2^nd plane come in and all I could do was drop my jaw and cry at what I was seeing. I felt SO sick and I kept thinking, “It isn’t real, it isn’t real”! Watching everyone running from the billowy smoke and all the chaos taking place, my heart was just breaking! 

 

I noticed that there was tons of debris falling from the windows and seeing people waving for help was just so sad to watch. It was when they showed people jumping that I just couldn’t watch this anymore. 

 

We must’ve been in the van for 2 hours watching this and when we went back in, an announcement was made that the company was closing at 1:00. Of course until that time I was online continuing to watch what was taking place. While sitting at my desk, I realized that the pain in my stomach was gone. 

 

I left Vanguard and I drove to my parent’s house where I saw my sister and my Father standing outside talking. We talked for about a half hour and I shared about my stomach pain. I wondered if that was some kind of sign of the tragic event that was about to take place. 

 

I left and went home to my apartment. I got in my pajama’s and got into bed just flicking through each station, 3, 6 and 10 watching and listening in disbelief. They showed the planes crashing in the buildings over and over again. I stayed in bed the rest of the day and night with a heavy heart and sorrow for all those people who were part of that tragic day and for the family members who never got to say goodbye, or I love you. 

 

The one sound I will NEVER forget is the high pitched siren that was going off all day and night. I can hear it now as I sit hear and write this. 

 

We will never forget the tragic events that took place on this day. God Bless the families and friends of those who lost loved ones and God Bless America.
 
mle 9/11/08