One of the most profound experiences I had as a meeting planner was on September 11, 2001.

I will always remember the first words I heard from my son when I call him from the airport to let him know where I was: "Thank goodness, you're on the ground." He knew I was traveling that day, he was busy at work when he got the news about what had happened; but when asked where I was, couldn't remember where exactly nor the timing ....

This is my account of what I experienced that fateful day and what I learned about keeping calm in a crisis.

While on route to San Antonio, TX to advance company-sponsored events and client meetings as part of a national conference the company was participating in, I found myself (among thousands of others) stranded in Dallas early that morning awaiting a connecting flight when I learned the airport was being locked down to any further air traffic due to the indescribable cataclysm unfolding in NYC and elsewhere.

It was my faith and my ability to focus on the present that helped keep me on track as I worked through the next steps.

After calls to my parents and to the office to let them know where I was and that I was safe, I realized very quickly two things: 1) I needed to leave the airport ASAP; and 2) I needed to find a place to stay – a home base to think and work from -- because in all likelihood I would not be going on to San Antonio nor would I be going back to Minnesota any time soon.

I knew from past experience that when events around me seemed to be spinning out of control, I needed not to react but to step back as soon as possible and reassess the situation.

So, my next call was to corporate travel to book a hotel room from where I would await word on the status of the conference (it was later postponed), begin to reconstruct my own plan and eventually chart my journey back home but ...

First, I needed to find an electrical outlet. What the heck? See, the night before traveling, I would always power up my cell phone so I would start off the day with a full charge.  That night for whatever reason, I did not do this and, of course, found myself running low on power while looking for a place to plug in the phone for at least a short time.  I noticed the sweetest elderly woman nearby who seemed distraught.  When I asked what was wrong, if I could help with anything she told me she wanted to call her daughter who was planning to pick her up at her home destination but had no way of contacting her because she didn’t have a cell phone.  (Remember not everyone had cell phones in those days.)  I offered her mine; she gladly accepted my offer and made contact with her daughter.  All was well and I was back looking for a plug in, but .... 

Next, I had to find my luggage.  I made my way to Baggage Claim only to find the area quite a mess.  There was luggage on the carousels AND everywhere else because they were unloading bags from the newly grounded planes.  I walked around the area once, twice, maybe three times with no luck and had just mouthed the words, God, PLEASE help me find my bags.  I turned, looked down on the floor to the right of where I was standing and noticed two green pieces of Samsonite luggage – MINE.  Honest to God. 

It wasn’t until I was settled at the hotel a few hours later and turned on the television that I actually became aware of the significance of what had happened that morning.

I remained in Dallas for the next two days considering options for my return to Minnesota. It sounded like airport traffic was going to open up on Saturday but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to wait; and, if I did wait and planes started to fly again, would I actually be able to get a seat.

Driving was certainly an option to be considered. However, I wasn’t sure of rental car availability considering the incredible amount of people left stranded due to airport closures. On top of that I had never driven long distances on my own, vehicles weren't yet equipped with GPS, and I wasn’t all that good with maps.

My one saving grace was that Minnesota was a straight shot up Interstate 35 from Dallas. That and I had God and a very special Guardian Angel on my side. With that, I decided to take a giant leap of faith and go for it. Had I been stranded on the East Coast or West Coast or anywhere off Interstate 35, I never would have attempted the drive on my own.

Luckily, I was able to secure a rental car but had to go back to the airport to claim the car. (This was the closest rental office to where I was staying.)

The drive to the airport was so strange: the skies so quiet, so eerie; and there was little vehicle traffic going into or out of DFW. This was a recurring feeling throughout the drive home as well. It was surreal. Again, the skies were so quiet. I had blue skies all the way up but not a cloud, not a plane did I see -- until I got to Des Moines and then the skies turned dark and it rained nearly the whole last day. Still no planes in the sky though.

I listened to public radio all the way back home for company and to stay up on current events. I wasn’t in the mood for music; I simply wanted to hear people's voices. I kept in constant contact with my son, my parents and my co-workers throughout the next three days (when I wasn’t driving, of course). The joy and relief I heard in their voices each time we connected was very special and kept me going.

I will never forget what happened that day and traveled to Manhattan numerous times since while still working – a number of times on the anniversary of 9/11. On those occasions, I was always struck by how mesmerized I became as I sat and watched the remembrance services on TV before leaving for the office and how blessed I was to be so safe and secure. And, I will never forget the many that did not make it home nor the sacrifices of the police, fire and first responders that day and the weeks and months to come. God bless them and their families all.

Mary Jo Wiseman, CMP | Author, The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings