story8144.xml

story8144.xml

born-digital

story

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no

2002-09-26

Ever since I was a child, a road trip to visit family in north Jersey meant driving past the New York City skyline - a skyline of promise, strenghth, and pride. I can remember as the Twin Towers came into view the overwhelming feeling I felt knowing that right on the other side of the river resided a microcosm of life unparalleled to any other. Life resonated at a different pace; the city provided opportunity and employment for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the area, including my hometown.

Not having Tuesday classes that semester, I slept in on September 11th, 2001. I was awakened by a frantic phone call from my mother at work, pressing me to turn on the television, because a plane had flown into World Trade Center Tower One. In a panic, we tried calling her fiance?, who worked in the city, as my friends tried to contact their fathers that also worked there. To our dismay, throughout the day, all of the phone lines in and out of the city were out of order. As my family and I watched the news, all of us in different regions of the state and country, we stared in disbelief at the destruction of the most symbolic structures of New York City. Shock permeated the air of our very existence. The void that the towers had once occupied immediately filled with fear, and a feeling of disbelief and disorientation. A black cloud of despair seemed to move in over our country. Then, as tears welled up in my eyes, I watched as two other planes went down, one in a field in Pennsylvania, and the other at the Pentagon. I took the time out to call loved ones in different areas of the country to make sure that they were ok, let them know that I was too, and most of all, (because no one knew what to expect next) to tell them that I loved them. I have never felt so much fear and love all at once. I called anyone I could think of to tell them that they resided forever in a special place in my heart.

The following day, I took a trip to Jersey City to gape across the river at the gap in the sky where two becons of prosperity and hope had stood. In their place was a giant billow of smoke, stretching all the way to the Statue of Liberty. I sought closure to confirm my disbelief, and witnessed it that day, in the park. For the first time in my life, I didn't cry for only myself. I cried enough tears to fill an ocean. Following that short pilgrimage, I placed a flag on the antenna of my car, and often looked at it to give me a sense of hope for our country, and the months that would follow.

Fortunately for my family and the families of my close friends, our loved ones returned home to us safely on September 11. However, over the following months, I was able to meet some very special people from my hometown who had lost loved ones. Their strength remains unparalleled to any strength that I have ever witnessed in my entire life. The sorrow that I feel for their losses will never be forgotten, but their perserverance and endurance provide proof of the strength of humankind, and that has taught me a valuable lesson of self-worth.

Dance like no one is watching, and love as if you have never been hurt before, for you never know what tomorrow may bring. You see, September 11 provided a break in the pride that had once resided in the heart of every American citizen, which was one of the main objectives of the terrorists. However, what was not expected was the strength that has grown throughout our nation. The losses of September 11 will never be forgotten, for they are etched in our minds and hearts for all eternity. Now, in place of the smoke and fear that replaced the towers' existence permanently resides a strong sense of American pride and a strong desire to not compromise our hope, promise, and dreams.