loss of Homeland Security My Story begins when I woke on September 10th 2001 to a normal day the sky was crisp my bags were packed for another week of business travel monthly trips to International destinations were a necessary element of my career it was my new normal and was very well adjusted to the frenetic pace and lack of sleep my loss I booked the overnight flight to Bueno sidtis so my arrival at the airport was during sunset my favorite part of the day I sensed an odd electricity in the air and a heaviness that at that time I attributed to lack of sleep and my hectic travel schedule I remember looking out of the airplane window and seeing a strange Hue of pink with The Descent of the sun one that was Melancholy and unfamiliar then came the voice of the captain ladies and gentlemen it seems there's a fire on the tarmac and as a result we will be forced to wait until we receive clearance to proceed I have no information at this time as to how long we will be delayed but rest assured that we will do all that we can to take off as soon as possible thank you in advance for your patience and our talented group of attendants are here for you at your service his words could not have been more prophetic on the Eve an event that would forever alter American history my observation two weeks earlier my husband had accompanied me on a business trip to San Francisco it was a glorious long weekend enjoying the culture food shopping and Ambiance of this beautiful City without question it was one of the most memorable weekends of my career with the prestigious technology company in route to San Francisco I had the pleasure of conversing with a very pleasant flight attendant she helped me lift my carry-on bag to the overhead bin and we exchanged pleasantries this encounter would haunt me for days weeks and years to come she was part of the crew that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11th also on the flight was a heroic gentleman who worked in my office he fought stoically for all the lives lost on that plane upon Landing in Argentina the morning was bright with a hue typical City fog pollution as I looked out the car window I recall thinking how fortunate I was to work for a company that gave me the opportunity to see the world at checkin the young clerk asked if I had any news from New York I replied New York is a wonderful City what would you like to know his expression was disconcerting I could not understand why my response confused him when he said a plane had crashed my naive response was oh I didn't know I I hope everything's okay his empty gaze told me otherwise he did not want to be the person to tell a traveler from New York what had just occurred my resolve upon entering my room I turned on the TV as usual when I arrived in a Latin American country to view Spanish CNN broadcast at first I have list while I'm packing then the report of a commercial plane hitting the World Trade Center shocked me to the core a live feed showed the first Tower engulfed in flames I sat on the edge of the bed and observed the tone of reporters was nothing like I have ever heard as they tried to mash their Terror and fill the Silence with a script to explain the unfolding events seeing the victims wave papers and cloth out the windows in a desperate attempt to get help before the Towers collap collapsed is burned in my memory the impact finally hit my psyche on my body the United States was under attack and I was in a foreign country now what I did what overachievers do I grabbed my laptop finished unpacking and freshened up to face the workday the plan had been for the American team to join the Argentinian team in the lobby and and proceed to the office for our meetings I gathered my faculties and kept it together until I reached my co-workers on the lobby floor they turned in unison with expressions of disbelief to them I undoubtedly looked like a ghost that's when I lost my composure not a word was exchanged as one of my Argentinian co-workers ran to me and kept me from collapsing he gave me his phone which had local self service so I could leave a voice message telling my husband I was okay my husband's fear was worse than mine since many international flights on that day were unaccounted for my action the attacks instilled a frail unsettled new normal when would I get home how could I possibly catch up a with everyone else I had to be patient and choose to believe rather than merely hope I would be all right I viewed hope as sitting back and letting things occur without making a decision or plan to control my destiny waiting rather than doing I was forced to spend nearly two weeks in Argentina each day the airports would open briefly then close precluding any travel to the east coast of the United States particular particularly Washington or New Jersey or New York I had never felt so vulnerable and alone all I wanted to do was be home to hug my family my friends and my furry kids I took action by grabbing every publication I could find to try to understand every angle of what was known and reported I prepared for the roller coaster of emotion I would feel upon the wheels landing at an airport on us soil my growth the flight black was surreal I was it was the first United Airlines flight leaving Argentina with other than crew and employees on board I hugged every United airplanes employee I encountered I was Wide Awake the entire time sharing in the 12 hours of unrest that all were [Music] feeling one flight attendant asked repeatedly if my coworker was from Washington it was from Washington if she was a flight Marshal it gave us all a Choco but also meant we were treated very well my glass of spirits was never empty air travel would now and forever be synonymous with vulnerability and mortality terrorism is nourished from the fear that causes panic immobility and submission now now it's your turn consider the points below to process your fear and assess your personal safety and circumstances when experiencing security vulnerability ground yourself in what you know to be true trust your instincts and what You observe if something doesn't seem right proceed with heightened alertness number two educate yourself with facts and be aware of perceptions and Dogma that may not directly impact your reality number three once you have listened to that voice inside of you externalize it always speak up and Report anything that looks suspicious number four work on staying positive as you can form bonds and connections with others who are sharing a similar experience so you can support each other and number five be a beacon of Peace violence will not solve violence