Through our open door

By Kathy Martens: My husband and I own a small electronics store in Williamsburg (population 2,800). On the morning of Sept. 11, it was quite warm, and we had the front door of our store open to let the breeze in. On an average day, we may have four or five of the new televisions running to show our customers.

As the horrible images began to come across the news, people came into the store and watched in total disbelief. Many of the folks were total strangers traveling on Interstate 80, who heard the news on their car radios and just had to see what was really happening.

At one point in the morning, we had more than 30 people in our store -- many with tears in their eyes, watching our world change forever. Oddly enough, no one said very much, no cursing or yelling, just ordinary people trying to understand the terrible destruction and obvious loss of life they were witnessing.

Many stayed for hours, others came and went, almost as if they needed to rush home to their own families. One man thanked us and then went to his car and broke down crying.

I have worked in this same store for more than 30 years and hope never again to draw a crowd for such an event.