story2388.xml

story2388.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was lying in bed listening to KTAR620AM, when Ned Foster, the news anchor, interrupted the program to report that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I will never forget the tone of his voice. It had a mixture of incredulity, surprise, tinged with fear. I turned on the television in my bedroom and tuned into CNN and saw the gaping hole and flames coming out of the North Tower. I watched for a few minutes and then came the second explosion. Immediately, I went into the living room and turned on the television and watched, like the rest of the nation, in horror. My oldest daughter called me and then I called my younger daughter, whose husband was born in New York. Soon thereafter the Pentagon was struck and for the first time I felt total fear. I wanted to get my daughters and granddaughter and bring them to my home so I would know they were all safe. I cancelled my appointments at work and sat mesmerized and fearful watching and waiting for the latest bulletins. Then we heard about the crash in Pennsylvania. Both of my daughters had to go to work, so I later picked up my granddaughter, who was eight years old, and brought her to my home. We hung my American flag on the front of my house. I live near Luke Air Force Base and watched the fighter planes take off all day and heard them all night. Later we gathered as a family and prayed for the victims and for our country and for our leaders.

Initially, I was full of irrational rage and vengeance and wanted to annihilate the entire middle east. I felt that rage for days until, at last, with a friend's arms around me I sobbed and sobbed.

I want to always remember this attack---it was not a tragedy---it was an vicious, unprovoked, insane attack that brought tragedy to so many people. I want to remember my anger and resolve and commitment to live my life as fully as possible. I have resolved to heal any relationship wounds, live my life more fully, and use the gifts and talents I have been given to serve God and my fellow humans.

God Bless the victims and their families. God Bless America.