{{takeoff}}

Thursday, January 15th, 2009.
3:26 p.m.
I'm on board US Airways Airbus A320, headed for South Carolina.
Our plane is pulling out onto the runway at LaGuardia Airport.
About one minute later, I hear a voice come over the intercom: "Brace for impact because we're going down."
Someone in the seat beside me said that we had just hit a flock of birds. Hmm...
The things that were going through my head at that point were outrageously crazy. I had no idea what was about to happen.
*All I could think to do was pray and hope for the best.
The passengers were told that we would be landing in the Hudson River. We hit the water pretty hard, but everything seemed to be okay.
Our pilot did a great job of evacuating the plane and making sure everyone was out.
I was out standing on the left wing of the plane, with 41 degree water up to my knees.
An hour later---> a ferry approached us and helped us to safety and warmth.
Words don't even begin to express how blessed I feel at this point.
...this was quite an experience!!