story5870.xml

story5870.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I was home that day reading my email. My TV was on in the other room but the volume was down. When I finished reading my email I went to the livingroom and looked at the TV to get the weather report. I was shocked when I seen the burning building. I did not know at the time what had happened or even what city it was. I turned up the volume and found out quickly. My first thoughts were "Those people are trapped in that building. NO way are they going to put that fire out! The pilot must have had a heart attack or something." Shortly after that I left to go to a friends house that was waiting for me. While I was getting in the car the second plane hit. I knew then that it was an act of Terrorism. I got to my friends house and we just stood in her dining room watching the tv. She had one on in every room so we would not miss anything. I watched in utter horror as the first building fell. My thoughts went to my cousin whom lives in New York. (Thank God she was safe... she is a bus a driver.. moving rescue workers to Ground Zero.) When the plane hit the Pentagon I experienced something I never thought was possible... I felt that my whole life just changed and it might not be for the better... I was scared. I was very scared. I prayed. I prayed all day long. I slept with the Tv on so that if anything else happened at night I would know about it.I wanted my children close to me all day. When my children got home from school I held them close. I called my son and told him I loved him and hoped he was ok. When my husband came home we just held each other. We had friends coming over for something.. can't remember what it was anymore. We just sat there and talked about what had happened if more was coming. Shock.. we were all in shock. I looked at my youngest who was 6 at the time and could not fully understand what had happened in her life today. I was scared for the future of my children.. what kind of future was there going to be.
Well it is a year later and my children have learned some valuable lessons in the last year. I never thought that myself or my children would live to see something this terrible happen on in the USA. We are stronger now. My 12 year old has a new sense of Pride in her country. We are going on with our lives. On Sept 11 I put my flag out. THat flag over time got ruined in the weather. It was replaced with 2 flags. I also have my POW flag out still! THey will stay there!!! When they get worn they will be replaced. I will never forget!!! My prayers are for those victims and families.