story5901.xml
Title
story5901.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-12
911DA Story: Story
Forty years ago September 11 was the day I was born. I had decided I was not going to let this milestone upset me, or bring me down. I had went shopping a few days before and bought some items to hand out at work. I had planned a day full of fun, excitement and joy.
As I was getting ready for work while watching the Today Show, I couldn't believe my eyes. As I looked and then looked again I realized I was NOT watching a commercial or advertisement for a horrible movie. Just as I realized that, I saw the second plane come in and hit. My heart stopped beating, my eyes widened, and I stood in sheer disbelief. As the reports kept coming in, and everyone not knowing what was happening, my heart began to beat out of my chest.
My husband had already left for work that morning so I just stood in awe of what was unfolding before me. I woke up my son and as he sat up looking at the TV, he asked why I was having him watch this horrible movie. As I told him what he was watching was really happening, we both just held one another. I couldn't think, I couldn't breath, I couldn't believe, I couldn't understand, I didn't know what to do, what to say, or how to comfort him or myself. We held each other tightly and if only for a moment, forgot about everything else in the world.
I work for our county government and the thought of us being attacked was unbearable. Who could do such a thing? Who could hate us so much? Would they attack again? Could they attack again?
I called work and told everyone what had happened. They thought I was pulling a prank because of my birthday. Then they realized this was not a joke. Earlier that morning, everyone had decorated my desk for the big 40 celebration that was to take place. I had every intention of not letting this tragedy interrupt my celebration, yet when I arrived at work, everyone was in shock. As the day progressed and the constant showing of the crashes, and then the fall of the towers, how could anyone celebrate anything? All of the lives that were taken, all of the people who were lost, all of the loved ones who where frantic with fear, all the children who were taken away or who lost their mommies and daddies, all the heroes who went into action to save what lives they could only to lose their own. The heartache, the intense horror, the shock, the emptiness, the sorrow!
The day I turned forty. The day was meant for happiness. The day was meant for joy. The day was meant for celebration. The day I planned on passing out "DumDum" suckers for everyone to celebrate with me. This day that changed my life. This day that changed the lives of many. The day that brought the country to its knees, only to stand up united, launched into a reality thought of never to be. The world brought together through pain and suffering unlike ever before. A love for life, learned to not be taken for granted as we all search for a way to cope with such tragedy.. still!
Michelle Monday
As I was getting ready for work while watching the Today Show, I couldn't believe my eyes. As I looked and then looked again I realized I was NOT watching a commercial or advertisement for a horrible movie. Just as I realized that, I saw the second plane come in and hit. My heart stopped beating, my eyes widened, and I stood in sheer disbelief. As the reports kept coming in, and everyone not knowing what was happening, my heart began to beat out of my chest.
My husband had already left for work that morning so I just stood in awe of what was unfolding before me. I woke up my son and as he sat up looking at the TV, he asked why I was having him watch this horrible movie. As I told him what he was watching was really happening, we both just held one another. I couldn't think, I couldn't breath, I couldn't believe, I couldn't understand, I didn't know what to do, what to say, or how to comfort him or myself. We held each other tightly and if only for a moment, forgot about everything else in the world.
I work for our county government and the thought of us being attacked was unbearable. Who could do such a thing? Who could hate us so much? Would they attack again? Could they attack again?
I called work and told everyone what had happened. They thought I was pulling a prank because of my birthday. Then they realized this was not a joke. Earlier that morning, everyone had decorated my desk for the big 40 celebration that was to take place. I had every intention of not letting this tragedy interrupt my celebration, yet when I arrived at work, everyone was in shock. As the day progressed and the constant showing of the crashes, and then the fall of the towers, how could anyone celebrate anything? All of the lives that were taken, all of the people who were lost, all of the loved ones who where frantic with fear, all the children who were taken away or who lost their mommies and daddies, all the heroes who went into action to save what lives they could only to lose their own. The heartache, the intense horror, the shock, the emptiness, the sorrow!
The day I turned forty. The day was meant for happiness. The day was meant for joy. The day was meant for celebration. The day I planned on passing out "DumDum" suckers for everyone to celebrate with me. This day that changed my life. This day that changed the lives of many. The day that brought the country to its knees, only to stand up united, launched into a reality thought of never to be. The world brought together through pain and suffering unlike ever before. A love for life, learned to not be taken for granted as we all search for a way to cope with such tragedy.. still!
Michelle Monday
Collection
Citation
“story5901.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 22, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/12967.