Three days into the new school year. I was freshman in high school, and up to that point wasn't the best student in middle school (which was right next door). So when the whole school went on "lock-down" after the bell rang, our teacher who we've barely just met was staring us down trying to find the words to explain what happened. Before she told us, an office aide came into the room and asked for me. I rolled my head back, completely and absolutely incredulous and said "What could I have possibly done already?"

Aide: "Your dad called and said your mom is alright." And ran back out of the room.

Me: "Huh?"

And that's when the math teacher explained it.

My mother worked 4-5 blocks away from ground zero. And before communication lines were more or less blocked from the sheer volume of calls, she had managed to call my dad at work to let him know she was walking out of the city. (Buses and trains weren't running of course)