story4955.xml

story4955.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was beginning my morning just like any other day. I was busy with my daycare children, getting breakfast finished and doing usual daily chores. I stopped for a minute to call my mother in law to chat with her for a minute. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was watching the news and that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. My first reaction was Oh My God, what a terrible accident! I immediately hung up the phone and turned on the television. I could not believe what I saw! Smoke and flames were coming up and out of the building and into the sky. Then as I watched, another plane came out of nowhere and it rammed into the second tower. Instantly, there was more smoke and flames. Then it hit me, this was no accident! After that realization came, a sick,emptiness came to my stomach and still to this day has not completely left. And I am not sure it ever will. The entire day on September 11, 2001 I did nothing but continuously watch the news and cry. Before that day, I felt pretty secure that nothing like this could ever happen. Not in America!!! It shattered an innocence in me just like it shattered and destroyed those two buildings. I had prayed that innocence would never be touched. I am now open to the fact that anything could happen, any time, anywhere. I now know that not everyone looks up to Americans just because we are a strong nation. In my lifetime, I will never forget the images of those buildings crumbling to the ground and all of the terrified faces in its wake! So many people lost loved ones in that tragic moment and it weighs heavy on my heart, the grief that I feel for them. Each and every time I see those images I will forever grieve for all Americans.