story7498.xml

story7498.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-15

I was driving to work that morning and listening to the radio. I heard about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center and thought what a terrible accident that must have been.

When I got to work, I heard that a second plane had crashed into the building. At first I thought it was a strange coincidence, then realized that it was not. As I listened to the news on the radio, I learned that the planes full of innocent people were used as weapons to hit the building. I listened in horror and amazement. One of the men at work had a television, and I was glued to it as I watched the second plane fly into the building over and over again on the news replays. I cried, not caring that I was at work with my colleagues.

As the morning progressed, all I wanted to do was go home and hug my children. Their day care owner called me at work and said the center was closing for the rest of the day due to concerns about their proximity to Orlando's goverment buildings and possible further terrorist activities. I was relieved to get them home.

I could not watch any news coverage at home because I did not want my two boys to see the terrible events that they were too young to understand. I had to wait until the kids went to bed before I could catch up with the day's tragic events. I did not sleep well that night or many nights after that.

I don't think my life will ever be the same again. I long for the carefree, secure atmosphere that I had just a short year ago. I long for a world in which my boys will grow up innocent, happy and safe. I long for peace in the world.