story128.xml

story128.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-03-04

I remember taking my new convertible on that day, sky was clear and I was returning to my home in northern Virginia. I just received a call on my cell phone from my Dad who works for FEMA telling me to have a good week and take care of myself. After I hung up, turned the radio on, I heard "WASHINGTON DC is under siege," "The WTC was attacked." And my first instinct was to call my family, cell phones didn't work. Within a couple of minutes I went from enjoying a beautiful relaxed day to a state of terror. Most of my family works for the government or in Washington/Arlington and so do my friends, my best friend works for the Pentagon. I quickly went to my apartment to see what was going on, my dad and girlfriend had called my home line and urged me to escape the area and return to their home an hour and a half away. I did. I only took the things with me that I needed and could not live without: my guitar, my elephant, some clothes, and music. All of my life I have lived with the rule of never taking anyone or anything for granted, and that's the way I liked to like life without regrets and with appreciation. I am the type who likes to spend a weekend blowing money on pizzas to feed to the poor that's just me. But That day I felt a loss of innocence. I felt that I could have spent a little more time enjoying things and people. I did see this country pull together and unite though. Everyone in my household went out and volunteered at the Red cross and gave blood, and so did so many other households. As much as we are accused of being money hungry capitalists we can come together without a second thought or personal reward in a time of crisis. I am proud to be a citizen of this country. since Sept 11 I have focussed more on my family and life as a whole, I took the time to tell people I had lost contact with that I love them. Life has been slower and thus more enjoyable. And though our innocence was lost and unity and strength was gained.