A small group of us were gathered outside getting prepared to go to the field when my ears tuned in to someone mentioning a plane hitting the Twin Towers.....immediately the group gathered around a car radio to hear a news broadcast - another plane had hit the other tower.
I dont know how long we just stood around listening in stunned silence. But eventually, someone mentioned the feed store across the street had a TV. In short order a small group of us gathered in front of the only channel we could pick up - a Spanish language news broadcast - but the live video feed said it all.
My mind thought back just five weeks earlier when I was in NYC....
August 2, 2001, I visited NYC for the first time in my life. It was a short four day stayover with the highlight attending my first Yankee game at the Stadium. Clemens pitched the game - it was his birthday - and we won.
I had a couple of days to view some of the sights and so I walked from my hotel near Times Square, south on Broadway all the way to Battery Park so I could catch a ferry to Lady Liberty. The lower Manhattan atmosphere deluged my senses and the heat in early August approached Texas, but all-in-all it was inspiring to be a witness to this city.
The walk took me next to the Twin Towers. I paused a few minutes to catch my breath and to gaze skyward. They were impressive, to say the least. However, I didnt have time to stop & visit. I wanted to catch Lady Liberty, so I had to walk on.
It took hours to visit Lady Liberty. The day was almost gone by the time I was finished seeing the sights of Lower Manhattan and grabbing a bite to eat so I didnt have the time to walk over to the Twin Towers. It was early evening, so I took the subway back to Times Square.
August 7th I flew back to Texas, thinking that was the last time I would see NYC.......
......The rest of September 11th, I was in a half daze. I spent a few hours watching the TV and watching all that transpired that day. Eventually, I made my way to the field where I overlooked the Rio Grande, just above Falcon Lake. Normally, one could see an occasional aircraft overhead in the sky. However, that day there was an eerie silence and the sky was empty of aircraft. However, towards mid-afternoon, I heard the sound of a chopper. I stood and stared as I saw a lone military helicopter flying slowly down the Rio Grande........
I went back to the motel room and watched TV the rest of the evening and the next day.....
As I sat in my motel room watching the events unfold again & again, I cant tell you exactly when, but it didnt take me very long to realize that I was glad Dubya was my President. I shuddered to think what if Gore had won - the guy I had actually voted for?
From that point onward, I became a conservative.
One year later, I made it back to NYC to join in the 9/11 memorial services. I will never forget.
