story3177.xml

story3177.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

Thankfully, I don't have much a story to tell. I did not lose family or friends in the September 11th tragedy. I was at work and heard the news on a local radio talk show. I immediately called my husband and relayed the news to him. I called my son's school to make sure that he and the other children were alright. I called my daughter's daycare to make sure that she was fine. Even though I knew that they were fine, I just needed to connect with my family. I banded together with coworkers as we shed tears of terror, sympathy, outrage, incredulity, and almost a selfishness in that we were thankful we and our families were safe.

How have the events of September 11, 2001 and the aftermath affected me? I am more generous with telling and showing my family how much I love them. I am trying to be more tolerant. I go out of my way to be helpful to others. I overlook insignificant things that would have bothered me a year ago. I make time to read "one more story" to my children. I eat the last cannoli, forgetting about the calories it contains. I forego housework when the kids want to play. In other words, I celebrate the gift of life and try to live each and every day the best that I can. In doing so, hopefully I am instilling in my children a deep and profound love of live, family and freedom.

I love my family. I love my friends. God bless my family, God bless my friends. God bless the little children of the world. God bless those affected by the tragedy of September 11, 2001. God bless America and God bless the World.