I Watched The Melting Pot Explode
...over myself. The first thing I saw was a black cloud of smoke billowing from one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. My first thought was that an airplane had flown too low into it. Then, I watched in horror as another airplane flew into the second tower. Realization hit me bitterly. It was another attack on the World Trade Center, and it was easy to see that this destruction was the product of a well-planned strike. I still had Nickki on the phone, but by this time, we were rendered speechless by shock. I can remember screaming once, right when the plane hit the building, but I cannot remember crying at all. I was too numb for tears. I quickly got off the phone with Nickki. I had to find my husband; I had to know if he was okay. He was in Alpena, Michigan, so I had no fear that he was in any immediate danger, but I worried that these attacks were going to lead to war, and I may never see him again. I tried calling the base in Michigan, but all of the lines were busy. I tried to call his home base in Springfield, Ohio, and again, I could not get through. By this time, I was frantic. I was so scared, and confused, while at the same time I felt helpless. I sat down on the couch with my daughter curled in my lap. I watched television to find out as much information as possible. I also prayed that the phone would ring. I explained to my daughter what she was seeing on television. I tried to be protective of her 5-year-old’s innocence, and I was so angry that I had been put in the position of having to talk to her about such evil. I sat there, rocking her as she cried into my shoulder, when the phone finally rang. My husband finally called. I felt as if the world rose right from my shoulders, and the relief was welcomed. He could only talk for a few minutes. He told me he was okay, he was not sure when he would be able to come home, and he could honestly say this was his worst birthday ever. He was under orders not to tell me anything about the attacks or if he would be detained. By this time all cal...