A Flight We'll Never Forget

Sept 9th, 2011 Day 1 (Warning Signs)

My husband Ralph, daughter Madison (who was 5 at the time) and I flew to Phoenix, AZ together on September 9th, 2011 so Ralph could attend a business meeting. It was our very first flight and our first trip out West and we were pretty apprehensive about it. We flew out of St. Louis and into Phoenix that day and because we arrived very late had to quickly run to our terminal dragging Madison along with tears streaming down her face wondering what all the fuss was about. We almost missed our flight but when we saw reached our ultimate destination, the beautiful Scottsdale Princess resort, the airport drama was soon forgotten.

Sept 10, 2011 Day 2 (Danger Lurking)

Our room at the resort was a cabana located on a beautiful trail landscaped with wonderful desert plantings. While we strolled the grounds we closely encountered a gigantic black and yellow striped snake that directly crossed our path (poisonous we later confirmed with the staff).

Sept 11, 2011 Day 3 (Worst Nightmare)

As Ralph was preparing for his meeting while watching the morning news he said to me "Karen, somebody flew a plane into one of the twin towers in NY." I joined him in front of the TV and we talked about what could possibly have caused such a terrific pilot error, not dreaming of the horror that was unfolding. As we listened to the reporters speculating on the major networks, we stayed tuned for more information and assumed it was a terrible accident. As the pieces of the terrorist attack came together that morning, the peace of mind that my family knew came apart.

Later that day we consoled each other, called friends and family for comfort and learned that our flight home was cancelled as was all air traffic for days to come. We rented a car and began the long quiet ride home listening to bits and pieces of news telling of the many innocent lives torn apart and the acts of heroism which shall never be forgotten. Our world was forever shaken as we considered the many who died, randomly chosen; could have been our family, our flight. Numb and easily moved to tears as we watched miles and miles go by with so many American flags flying proud, waving goodbye to the precious lives lost that day and to the false sense of security we held so dear.