story8446.xml

story8446.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-10-16

I was in the kitchen when my 17 year old son yelled to me about an airplane crashing into the tower. I thought he was talking about a movie, or just joking around so I just ignored him. A few seconds later he screamed for me to come into the living room. When I saw the images on the television, I froze. I couldn't move. My son and I just sat there in disbelief. Then as if the horror we were watching wasn't bad enough, the announcement and live account of the second plane hitting came on. I think it was the first time in my life that fear really took hold of me. My thoughts were racing. I couldn't take my eyes off the television. I was shaking and crying and holding my son. I had moved to Holland just that past April from New York. I was born and raised in upstate N.Y., and now I was watching the most horrifying thing I had ever seen. I wanted to go home, but was afraid. I wanted to help, but didn't know the first thing to do, so I just sat in front of the television. Day and night, I watched as one life after another was taken so violently. I tried to phone my family, but the lines were all busy. I just needed to hear their voices. I knew they were O.K., but I still needed to talk with them for reassurance. I couldn't stop thinking about all those people, I still think about it almost everyday. My daughter was hit by a car on July twentieth, 2001, in the States. I flew there immediately. She was badly hurt, but time would heal, along with surgery and physical therapy. I made arrangements to fly back to Holland the last week of August. Two weeks later, I am watching thousands of people dying. My little girl is alive and doing well. I am so very sorry for all who have lost their loved ones. I cannot express how sad this has made me. I am not even sure that my letter is making much sense right now. There is so much to say, but I can't find the words. This has changed me.