I was only far far away, but they hit me too. I was stunned. It felt surreal to go about the day as if nothing had happened...not when I had spent that morning glued to the television in deep terror that the White House and The Capitol would be struck as well...and hearing reports come in that THAT would have been a sure possibility were it not for the bravery of Flight 93.
And when it was announced that Barbara Olsen was on the flight that struck the Pentagon, THAT was when I began to cry.
I met her a few years back when she came to Houston to promote her first book, 'Hell To Pay." I was much too shy to say anything of intelligence other than "I really liked your book, thank you for writing it, I'd like to give this second copy to my father." We now both possess a very precious thing. But I will always remember her smiling and talking with me and others and being completely approachable and beautiful and someone I would have really like to get to know better.
May she rest in peace. And God bless her husband.
God Bless everyone who was there that day and helped survivors live through it, who went to rescue those who couldnt escape, and did not return themselves.
I did not understand bravery or heroism or valor or what being an American was until September 11.
God Bless them all!
Me, too!